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Then, an explosion of noise blasted out throughout the entire building, at such a level that Nove, waiting in reception, leaped out of her chair in fright and spilling scalding coffee all over her legs.

A slight tingling of the skin, caused by teleportation, disappeared pretty quickly and Nanoha usually wouldn’t even noticed this, being through such procedure for numerous times, but the strong heartache, which tormented her for few hours already made her much more sensitive to any stimulus.

Grimacing and twitching under the strain of discomfort able feelings, Nanoha strode toward the exit from the teleportation room. The operator – pretty young blond woman in her early twenties, who wear standard TSAB’s Ground Forces brown uniform – called her out, inquiring does she need a help. Ace of Aces just shook her head in response, giving a younger compatriot a small smile of gratitude for her concern, before slightly speeding up – she just wanted to go home quickly and she had enough medicine so she wouldn’t bother a medical stuff for such petty reason as plain headache.

The main hall was half-empty due the late time and the summer season, when many officers took a vacation, so the spacious room was pretty quiet, much to Nanoha’s relief – her poor aching head wouldn’t took a commotion well. Auburn haired woman give a small node to the receptionist and a pair of guards, moving toward the pair glassed doors. When she finally noticed the situation outside her blue eyes widened a bit in shock.

When she leaved her home at morning, the bright sun shined down on a Crangan, despite the rows and rows of thick white clouds. But now Nanoha Takamachi-Scrya could only stare at dusky panorama of the city, assaulted by a heavy rain.

The sensors picked up her approach and doors slip away, opening the patch both for her and for a burst of a cold wind that almost threw her backward. Enduring the attack of a weather, Nanoha raised her collar as she run toward the bus station. Since she was tricked by sunny morning weather she didn’t took umbrella with her, but she had her faithful device with her.

“Round Protection.” Chirped Raising Heart and a glimmering pink circle above Nanoha’s head a moment before she moved from under the protection of a windscreen. Trembling under the rage of a wind Nanoha could only comfort herself with a thought that even if she took an umbrella with her it didn’t help her as the powerful wind bend the streams of water so much that they fall on her legs anyway.

Finally reaching the half-spherical of a bus-station, Nanoha sneaked under the plastic roof and cancelled the spell. She was alone on the station so blue eyed woman used her solitude to sit on the bench, pull her legs to her chest and then hugged them tightly and then started to run energetically her drenched socks with both arms, trying to warm herself up for a bit. The murky weather still attacked her with a cold piercing air but at least the water couldn’t find its way into Nanoha’s temporary shelter.

The lady of luck still had some mercy in reserve for poor cold woman; just only one minute after Nanoha reached the plastic dome the green and gray colored bus appeared in her sight. She sprung to her feet, hissing slightly at sharp throb in her whiskeys and eyes and once the vehicle stopped moving and opened the doors, she dashed forward, re-creating a shield for a few seconds.

The warmth of the bus’ cabin felt majestic against her body, which lower-part was covered in water-drenched clothes – as short the distance between station and bus was the powerful gust of wind blow enough rainy water into her direction to mar Nanoha’s skirt too.

“Payment for a ride accepted.” Informed her Raising Heart - her dutiful device, while sickly woman staggered toward one of the empty seats. Her pained gaze couldn’t fine anyone else in the cabin, bar her and the elderly gentleman in the very corner, who though not only had an umbrella with him, but also wear a thick water-proof coat. Unlike her this person was prepared to the weather’s misconduct.

The bottled-up stress and headache really whittled her up, as twenty eight years old woman almost fell on the seat. Using her remaining strength, Nanoha moved to lean on the plastic surface of the seat, usually she liked to press herself into the window and enjoy the outside view, but now she definitely didn’t want touch the icy cold glass.

Despite auburn haired woman best efforts to keep her concentration, she almost falls asleep and missed her station if not for Raising Heart’s warning. Standing up was a harder task for her fatigued body but her home was already so close, she need to endure this pain for a bit more.

Nanoha moaned in pain once she step outside, creating the barrier above her head one more time. Seems that her body, which get used to the pleasant warmth of the cabin too much, get almost paralyzed once the wind starts to torment her again. She almost slipped on the wet concrete as she dashed toward the familiar two stored building where she and her family lived.

As door grew closer and closer Nanoha finally noticed the light in the window of the main hall – since her husband still fixed the aftermath of the today’s accident and Vivio was on the out-of-town trip, she had no other ideas but conclude that her co-wife already come back from her duty. This thoughts cheered her up a bit - seems she could ask for help in warming up.

This pleasant thought was interrupted by small wave of nausea that made her stagger when she almost reached the darkened wooden door. Whining in pain and cold, Nanoha starts to search for the key in her breast-pocket with her half-stiff fingers. Her hand jolted once one of her fingers’ flash got torn by the metallic ring that held her keys together. Muttering under her breath, Nanoha still forced herself to concentrate on more important task. The ring finally slipped on her index finger and then Nanoha almost jammed the key into the lock.

Oh kami, she never thought that sound of open up door would be that sweet to hear.

Once she closed the door, Nanoha finally slowed herself to give in to fatigue and fall on her knees, gasping and groaning. The dusky hallway of the Takamachi-Scrya household, where Nanoha sat right now, was lit only by the light from the main hall but it was enough for Nanoha who could navigate here with closes eyes. Using the umbrella stand as a cane, she couldn’t help but give her personal pink umbrella a mirthless smile, Nanoha pulled herself onto wooden surface of the parquet floor. The warm air in the home, bring back the agility to her fingers as she untied the shoelaces of her favorite white and blue boots.

Nanoha pull out a pair of her dark blue slippers and stood up to unbutton her jacket. She carefully squared the gray textile, marred by darkened spots where water soaked in before putting it on the hanger to let it dry. Slightly wincing
Nanoha made her way into the main hall, then she wanted to go to kitchen, take some pills from headache and anti-cold mixtures but the pain increased significantly when she moved into the most spacious room in the home, occupied by pair of couches, small wooden table and his much bigger brother, beside whom her family took their meal.

Hissing under her breath, Nanoha abandon her route for a while and lay on one of the couches to restore some strength. The soft velvet felt very good through her still wet shirt and the soft pillow seemed to soothe her headache for a bit. The lights from the chandelier, which fall directly on her eyes, was too strong so fatigued woman put her left hand on her face, covering both eyes.

Lying like that helped her recover but pain and feeling of the cold still was there, as Nanoha waited until she had enough strength to finish her journey and get some medicine at least.

“Nanoha.” Deep, strong yet gentle and caring voice of her co-wife reached her ears, making Nanoha to raise her hand a bit to meet the lovely sight of her co-wife, who looked at her with worried expression.

Nanoha, gulped the saliva, wetting her throat but her beloved one raised her hand, preventing her from uttering a word. “Don’t push yourself, rest here I’ll bring you some pills.”

Nanoha just nodded with a smile in the response, sometimes it was just plain wonderful to let someone you love to take care of you. Her friends and family pretty much demanded that she stopped preventing them from spoiling her and she had no strength to complain.

Soon she felt a warm fingers touching her forehead and turned her head slightly, removing her hand from her eyes again, to see the slender hand, that hold a single bluish pill, while the other hold the glass of water.

“Thank you…” Muttered Nanoha weakly, forcing herself to sit up, taking up the medicine and a glass. Then she quickly swallowed the pill first and then emptied the glass in a few gulps. She then let the other occupant of the room to take the glass and then raised her gaze to meet the blue eyes of her precious co-wife. ”Thank you very much Signum-chan.”

Signum Takamachi-Scrya returned the smile before reaching out and patted her head carefully. Nanoha giggled in delight, enjoying the gentle movements of the blue-eyed woman’s hands and the feeling of warmth her wife transferred to her through flash-contact. Though the few powerful cough that shook Nanoha, shows it clearly that the warmth that reached her heart and forehead definitely wasn’t enough to warm her body.

Signum narrowed her gaze worryingly, seeing how Nanoha’s body spasms – she need to take a proper care of Nanoha or her love would caught a cold, or worse.
“Take your damp clothes off, Nanoha.” Ordered Signum, standing up to move toward nearby locker to pull out a warm dark blue blanket – sometime either she, Nanoha or Yuuno liked to take a nap on those couches when they were too tired to even go upstairs and thus they prepared some spare blanket and pillows for such occasion. Pink haired knight carefully covered Nanoha, who already quickly started to unbutton her shirt, with a thick fabric and mover around the couch, aiming toward one of the two doors on the back side of the room. “’I’ll prepare a warm batch.”

With quick, trained movements Nanoha get rid of her clothes that were stained by a cold rain. Then, after a few quick thoughts, she took off her underwear too – she’ll have to change them soon anyway when she’ll get in the bath. Before taking her shirt off, Nanoha take off Raising Heart and placed her friend-and-device into special holder on the table, where Laevanteinn already took his place. Finishing with undressing, auburn-haired TSAB officer wriggled deeper into the blanket’s cocoon, enjoying the cozy and warm embrace of the soft fabric, which enveloped her entire body.

The medicine provided to be quiet effective as painful jolts in her heads finally goes away, leaving her alone with warmth of the blanket, coziness of the couch and the familiar yet treasured feeling of being at home. Still the rain chilled her a bit too much for a single blanket to fight this freeze on its own. Nanoha pulled her legs to her chest second time this day, rubbing her ankles and feet, speeding the flow of blood in this chill-ridden part of her body.

The sound of the opening door and the continuous noise of flowing water immediately caught her attention, interrupting her action. Nanoha even didn’t need to hear the footsteps to know that her wife approaching the couch where she rested. The Ace of Aces couldn’t help but flash a broad goofy grin when Signum appeared in her field of vision, wearing her pink bathrobe, signaling that she would keep her company there. Despite all earlier misfortunes, seems that her evening wouldn’t be bad after all.

Signum Scrya-Takamachi revealed a small smile, when she saw that pile of clothes on the table, nearby the couch, had a panties and a bra on top of it; her smile grew even wider when Nanoha, with her cute trademark smile, stretched both of her hands from under the blanket toward her, revealing topside of her ample chest and cooed, demanding a hug.

It could be childish, but Signum loved Nanoha’s playful cuddly antics, especially since they didn’t included a groping, cosplay or molesting in them. Her wife’s smiling expression was even more dear for pinkette, since she clearly remembered all the pain, self-loath and suffering Nanoha went through after the conclusion of the Eclipse-incident, where it was hard to imagine that Nanoha Takamahi would be able to smile again.

Eventually, Nanoha learned to flash her beautiful dazzling smile again, but still, she never was the same. Well, after those dark times no one of them managed to keep their previous personalities unchanged. She, Signum, also lost her old self in this bloodstained tragedy.

Well, on other hand she get such treasures as Yuuno and Nanoha’s love, a daughter and new future.

With a fluid movement Signum dived right into Nanoha’s embrace, picking up Nanoha’s slippers with her left hand and then cradling auburn haired sweetheart in her arms, lifting her up from the couch. Needless to say, Nanoha didn’t miss the opportunity to caught pinkette’s lips in a kiss. There was also no need to say that taller woman didn’t break said kiss until they reached the entrance in the bath.

Nanoha’s skin starts to tingle when the hot steam that rises from the bathtub enveloped her body once she let the blanket slide. Lady-knight let her love go, as she starts to undone her bathrobe, and her princess strode toward the massive bathtub, that could accommodate a few persons at the same time. Without a hesitation Nanoha hop into the hot water, sending a splashes everywhere.

Auburn-haired woman hissed when the hot water collide against the remaining coldness of her body but few moments later Nanoha was barely bothered by the small tingles as the pleasant feeling, hot water give her, was much stronger. Her joy increased tenfold when she felt how pair of strong yet slender arms wrapped around her midsection, right under her breasts, and then her beautiful wife pulled her into embrace.

Succumbing to a mixture of relaxing pleasure and accumulated fatigue, Nanoha relaxed into Signum’s embrace, stretching her legs. Signum do the same, slumping deeper into the water, while Raising Heart’s owner raised her hands, wrapping them around swordswoman’s neck and snuggling deeper into Signum’s chest. The following ten minutes were spent in a complete silence as both women simply enjoyed the warmth of water, cozy relaxing atmosphere, gentle caressing and their shared love.

The bathroom was a pride of the Scrya-Takamachi household. The floor and lower part of the walls were covered by the dark brown ceramic tiles, while the upper half and cellar boasted a cover of a bright pink tiles. The bright golden-colored lamps were placed in a spiral pattern over the cellar to shine down on the bathtub, various lockers and the washing machine.

But of course the bathtub was the very center of this composition. A massive poll-like structure could easily accommodate trio of adult and still have plenty of space. Shari boasted of making a numerous upgrades to the bath, but Nanoha, Yuuno and Signum was somewhat wary of using them. Especially considering what they saw at Hayate’s home. Vivio on other hand was much braver and with a broad smile often prodded her parents to try and use one of the special modes but the married trio preferred the old-fashioned ways of spending the time in the bath. The current relaxing in each other arms was one of them.

Nanoha was the first to break the silence with a giggle and a loud splash, when she gleefully raised her both legs and then slam them into the water surface. Signum let out a small laugh on her own, when the hot splatters landed on Nanoha’s face, forcing her to blink and shook her head in a very puppy-like manner. Pinkette, decided to indulge in her desires, leaned down and kissed the tip of her wife’s nose. Nanoha yelped in surprise, though a split second later she recovered from the shock and, with a grin, pulled herself up to return the favor, aiming for swordswoman’s lips.

Once they parted, Signum shifted Nanoha’s position, still holding her in tight embrace, in a way that her head would lay on pinkette’s left shoulder. Now there were just few centimeters between their faces and older woman took her time, slowly caressing Nanoha’s face with her right hand.

“Seems that ailments leave your body, Nanoha.” Softly declared Signum, inspecting her wife’s relaxed smiling face. Woman in her arms nodded, while gently pulling one of Signum’s pink lock and starting playing with it. “Uh-huh. Thank you very much for all your help, Signum-chan, I definitely in a better shape than thirty minutes ago.” Chirped Nanoha, pausing with her plays to stretch her back.

“Nyahaha. Cuddling in warm water, feels great, aren’t it Signum-chan?” Inquired Nanoha with a playful smile, after a time of living together Signum knew it was just a cheerful smile, not a suggestive one. “Indeed. Just holding the person precious to oneself, could bring intense joy.” Agreed Wolkenritter, staring into Nanoha’s purple eyes. “When lady Hayate’s health condition prevented her from using her legs I often accompanied her in a bath.”

Nanoha purred when Signum started to carefully rub her belly with both hands. “You’re didn’t lost your touch, Signum-chan, Hayate-chan was really lucky to have you as her bath attendant.” As her wife continued to gently massage her lover body, Nanoha starts to gently brush the pink locks that obscured pinkette’s vision. “I admit that I was very shocked when you take care of me in our bath first time. I was so exhausted back then that I could only force the burden of taking care of my body to you. And you proved yourself to be so careful, so skilled, so gently.”

Nanoha playfully rubbed her nose against Signum’s cheek, which prompted pinkette to emit soft barely audible poor as her cheeks flushed a bit. Nanoha repeated her action, gaining even deeper shade of scarlet on lovely knight’s cheeks, but this time Signum counter-attacked by tickling one of Nanoha’s most sensitive areas behind her left ear. Laughing and squirming under her wife’s sneak attack, auburn-haired woman couldn’t help but adore the fact that woman, whom she remembered as reversed in normal life could be so cuddly.

“Nyahaha, Signum-chan is so skilled iun the art of seducing.” Teased Nanoha once Signum ceased “torturing” her. “I remembered how few years ago Hayate-chan declared that no man or woman would be able to resist your skills as a wife. I was so foolish to doubt her words even a little.” Nanoha was a bit surprise to find so much energy left in her body after spending the recent hour struggling against the pain, but now she almost fidget due he restraining vitality.

“I’m so hopelessly in love with you and Yuuno-kun, Signum-chan.” Those last words she almost whispered, but she know very well that her beloved woman heard them very clearly.

The way Signum pull her even deeper into her embrace, still making sure that Nanoha wouldn’t feel any discomfort proved her right. “I love you too Nanoha.” Signum Takamachi-Scrya’s voice was very soft yet held great passion. The way her breath tough her head make Nanoha’s entire body tingle. “For years I know you as a great warrior and reliable friend, yet I couldn’t see that you can make anyone, who gain such priceless gift as your love, the happiest person. You know, when Special Force 6 was just established I asked Te… Fate…”

Nanoha felt icy-cold jolt of pain I her heart when she heard the name of her dear friend she failed to protect. Signum sensed her pain and made a pause to give her a small kiss on cheek before continuing. “I asked her what aspect of your personality attracts Fate’s affection the most?”

Another pause was made and Nanoha gasped when Signum revealed one of her most beautiful smiles – open and sincere, this gentle expression could melt even the hardest heart and now Ace of Aces blushed softly, admiring the face of her wife. “She answered that once I know you better, Nanoha, I couldn’t help but fall in love with you. She was right – once I tasted your love and care I couldn’t help but fall in love with you again and again.”

Now Nanoha was bright red, pouting slightly at Signum’s openly amused expression, who obviously enjoyed her wife’s struggle with shyness. “Mou, your smooth-talking skills improved too much Signum-chan. And I thought that only our mock-battles you can make me struggler so hard.”

Signum let out a heartfelt laughter in the face of such accusation, flashing a small grin. “Well, I needed to improve to face you in our verbal battles, since our sparring matches don’t exited us so much after..”

Her cheerful speech came to a screeching halt since she touched the subject that still bring so many pain to all survivors of an Eclipse incident. Nanoha froze in her wife’s arms, biting her lover lip, trying to fight back the painful memories, while Signum closed her eyes in shame, both current and old. A few seconds later both women managed to suppress the unpleasant and painful images in their minds, but uneasy silence remained.

Nanoha shake her head suddenly, silencing her wife’s apologetic outburst. She moved her head, allowing her pained but resolute eyes meet pinkette’s gaze. “No matter how painful it is, - it’s still, our past Signum-chan. No matter how much we don’t like to remember this pain, we should not turn our heads away from those memories, so we wouldn’t commit such mistakes in the future.”

Nanoha took a deep breath, bracing herself before going down on the road of recollection of her most unpleasant past. It never got easy for her to remember the vents that pretty much crushed her old self, but thankfully she had soothing warmth of her wife’s hands to help with coping.

“How can I put it? I think I think, I grew a bit too careless, seeing the successes of the people around me. Fate-chan, who found a loving and caring family, raised two loving and caring wards and become one of the foremost Enforcers. Hayate-chan, who grew from crippled lonely girl into a prominent field commander. And there was you, Signum-chan, Vita-chan, Zafira-san and Shamal sensei who freed yourselves from the chains of past and become a famous officers. Subaru and Teana, my most precious students who gain their well-deserved fame and respect…”

Signum let out a long sigh, as the memories starts to flashes in her mind. General of Blazing Fire, despite her claims, took a big price in helping with training of the younger soldiers and she always prioritizes the well-being of the soldiers under her command. After the all tragedies of Eclipse incident she never missed the opportunity to visit a TSAB memorial to honor all of them who passed under her command, it was her responsibility to pay the eternal respect for their sacrifices. The strangled sob immediately shifts her attention to a present topic – helping her love was more important than Signum’s own dishonor.

The single tear flow down on her cheek as Nanoha went on with a broken voice, consumed by the memories of one of the two most traumatizing event in her life after her father’s injury. “Sometimes I almost can sense the sickening warmth of a Fate-chan’s blood on my face. I still can’t forget the anguish cries… of kami, those cries!!... of Lindy-san, to whom I couldn’t even bring a body of her daughter, who sacrificed her own life to save me from Hades Vandein..”

Nanoha continued her rant without realizing that her body starts to quiver violently, forcing Signum to cradle her wife into her arms, preventing her from drowning. “I couldn’t forget how Hades Vandein smiled after all my attempts to harm him failed how easily he blasted my AEC-equipment apart, smashing my body into the ground. I still can’t forget the scream of Fate-chan when she took the blast that should finish me off and lost her hand in the process. I still can’t forget how she smiled at me despite the agony she was in, before she teleported me away. I still can’t forgive myself because Fate-chan paid with her life for my failure.”

Now there was nothing left the previously joyful atmosphere, only chocked sobs of a crying auburn-haired woman disrupted the oppressive silence of a room. Signum didn’t utter a word, simply sitting there and holding and Nanoha in her arms, gently rubbing her back, allowing her to cry her pain out.

“I feel the same, my love.” Whispered pinkette, when her wife’s cries starts to fade away. “Lady Hayate gives us a priceless gift of her love and happy life, which we almost destroyed due to our own ignorance. Living there on Mid-Childa, far away from the roaring hellfire of war I allowed myself to starts greatly enjoy my battle skills, since now I could clash my swords with worthy opponents and then enjoy their company as my dearest friends, free from the need of bloodshed. Our battle always was the most memorable, Nanoha…” Brunette and pinkette giggled a bit at the memories of the fierce clashes between them.

“But then the horrors, which lurked in the depth of universe came back to remind me about the ugly and evil side of our world. Once the fangs of our enemies starts to claim lives of the people most precious to me I remembered that in all previous awakening of Book of Darkness word “joy” rarely exist for me.”

Signum let a few tears on her own before forcing her cries back – she can breakdown as much as she can later, once she help Nanoha, berated herself pink-haired knight inwardly, before adopting morose and grim but tear-free expression. “Once the death claimed the members of my family, despite my best efforts, my fire was extinguished. When I saw that my magic and experience was powerless to prevent Shamal and Zafira’s deaths I lost the ability to enjoy the thrill of a brawl. Now, once we meet on mock battle to give a lesson to our trainees, I felt only a satisfaction that I can give a few new lessons that could save more lives in a future.”

Older woman raised her arms and begin to gently dry Nanoha’s tears with her fingers. “I admit that I was very close to end my own life once the dust of the Eclipse-incident was setteled and I saw the scale of loses we suffered. I could barely stay at the home I shared with my family, Vita, Zwei, Agito and our beloved lady, who I failed. It was you and Yuuno who saved me, Nanoha.”

Nanoha, who still trembled slightly, leaned forward and returned the hug, wrapping her arms around Wolkenritter’s back. Signum’s expression relaxed under Nanoha’s warmth and she go back to rubbing her wife’s back, spoiling her a bit. The warmth, they both feel deep in their hearts through this chilly haze of agony starts to grow stronger as the words, uttered by lady-knight, reminded Nanoha about all happy memories they already created together as Signum joined her heart and family. Sensing the shift in her love’s mood Signum continued with additional force.

“Only because of your care I was able to took Laevanteinn back after all selfish blames I put on my dutiful sword. Only living with your family, Nanoha gives me the strength to go back to my duty as a TSAB officer. You helped me with making amends with Agito and my family” Signum pushed Nanoha back slightly, so she could gaze directly into Ace of Aces’ eyes. “And only you and Yuuno give me back the joy of being loved as a woman.”

She leaned forward to claim Nanoha’s lips as a proof of her words and her wife hungrily returned the kiss, pushing herself into Signum’s chest as if trying to blend them together.

They didn’t know how many time they spent trying to push all negative feeling away with their love, but slowly the pain disappeared, allowing two mentally exhausted women to finally break their kiss to catch their breath.

“We’re really gone through the lot of the hardships together, aren’t we Signum-chan?” Whispered Nanoha, adjusting her position. A small but very lovely smile finally graced her features as she lrt out a small joke. “Well, it was a bit hard to adjust my schedule: one week on training field and one week working as assistant librarian. I think now I’m not that eager to enter the field of battle - my back ache too much from all those heavy books.”

“Heh.” Chuckled pinkette. “Still you didn’t need to move between Ground Forces barracks and Engineering Division each week like I do. And believe me I have enough explosions and raging fire, since Mariel and Shari for some reason think that TSAB want to blow itself sky-high”.

“Mariel-san actually said that you’re the best Device Meister she ever worked with.” Nanoha’s eyes flashed with curiosity. “Who could think that you would be so good with Devices, Signum-chan. You’re really skilled in various ways.”

Knight’s expressions shifted and became confused and somehow unfocused. “I… I don’t know how to say it. But… I… I started to remember my…. Previous lives.” She paused, trying to find better words. “In dreams I see the various fragments from my past - I think! - life and I remember being… very confident in my skills in the work with mechanisms or devices.”

“Signum! Nanoha! Where are you?” The mental voice of their husband interrupted their talk. Nanoha glanced on the door, formulating an answer, she didn’t asked more, since she know that pinkette wasn’t found about her previous duties as Book of Darkness construct. She would ask only if Signum would be in the mood. “We’re in the bathroom, Yuuno-kun!”

“Ah! I see…” Even without seeing him both brunette and pinkette could tell he was blushing. Exchanging a quick glance, Nanoha and Signum burst into laughing, cracking to morose atmosphere of recent minutes.

“Yuuno-kun… how about to join us in a bathtub?” Inquired Nanoha both through telepathy and via her mouth so her wife would hear it too, SIgnum on her part flashed an amusing grin at the prospect. Her grin grew even wider when she heard “why not!” answer of the blond Chief Librarian. Well, as she said all of them experienced a changes in personality. Still, Nanoha and Signum agreed wholeheartedly, that they really liked the newfound boldness of their husband.
The hungry and surprisingly sly grin that appeared on her face was quickly picked up by Nanoha who climbed out of bathtub, preparing to jump on Yuuno once he entered the room. Pinkette quickly followed her example.

After such gloomy evening they desperately needed to lighten their mood up. And booth women decided that Yuuno also wanted to have some “fun”, considering that he had no less tiresome day.

Warning: this chapter contain the scenes of from the Wolkies past, which is as happy as a life of a slave can be.

Spoiler for Kaleidoscope of destiny 2a:

What we left behind (Part 1)

With a soft hiss the thick elevator doors slide aside, leaving the passage open for her to move in. The panorama of the spacious, highly-decorated corridor appeared before her eyes, the sight she came to be familiar with. The rows of rich, mithril illuminators, crafted in the shape of dragon with gem in his jaw, on both walls, had the space between each of them covered with murals, and each carpet boasted of having the exclusive image embroidered in it. The floor was covered in purple, so uncommon for belkans, fluffy thick carpet, which almost begged to use it like a cozy bed. Yet, she knew very well that not many people in entire realms of Belka would be happy to be there.

But she was ordered by her master to come here and she would never go against his wishes (she couldn’t do it anyway after all). She could felt the sharp bite of uneasiness when her leather brown boots sink into the carpet when she moved out from the elevator – her senses screamed about all the death-traps that lurked behind the clamorous decor. But even without her honed sense of danger she knew pretty well about all the deadly devices that were installed around this corridor. She had the dubious honor of being tasked to supervise maintain of their work after all.

The illuminators were actually a simple Storage Device, each of which contained a powerful fire-based spell, and their simultaneous activation would fill this tunnel with rampaging fire. Considering that the hidden in the cellar spell-disruption devices would quickly erode even the most potent barrier, the storm of fire was the last scene many invaders saw in their life.

And even if the unknown assailant(s) would be strong enough to withstand the fury of the fire they would meet another deadly surprise. All of sudden the murals would raise like a curtains in the ghastly spectacle, giving a way for the deadly automatons, that was find in the old Al’Hazardian Crypt of the Knowledge that never failed to ether blast their enemies with their cannons or slice them apart with their massive claws.

Those deadly machines look like amalgamation between a bear and a frog, forged from the golden material which was even harder than mithril. The eight ruby “eyes” they had on their heads never failed to make the technicians, who worked which them to cringe. Signum also noticed that those devices of destructions also invoked a strong response in her soul. But she didn’t know was this feeling a terror, an agitation, revulsion or… something else.

Of course, all this would happen is master of the castle was in a good mood (i.e. when he wanted to entertain himself with the show of his automatons’ killing power), usually he let the castle’s most lethal trap to handle all people, who was too stupid to went in the corridor, that lead to the castle’s owner private chambers, without a invitation.

Signum couldn’t help but curse inwardly as her boots continued to plunge into the carpet’s surface at each step, she would be so happy to simply fly over it but such stunt would immediately activate the alarm, so, just like always, she was forced to endure the sickening touch of the carpet’s fluff. She had feeling that she move through swampy bog.

Beneath its fluffy and cozy exterior laid one of the most sickeningly evil arcane devices she ever meets in her existence. Even she – the marshal of belkan military and experienced mage-knight – couldn’t totally suppress the jolt of fear when she saw the hellish thing in work.

Once you fail to meet the parameters of an allowed person the carpet start to glow with eerie crimson red light from the inside. Then the ancient runes from the time of Al’Hazard start to appear all over it surface. And then, the terrible spell would unleash the horde or the tormented souls, which was contained in the cursed item.

Hundreds of roaring, hollering and crying souls would fly outward in the insane attempt to reach the afterlife, spending the years being tormented in the pocket dimension, and as they blindly flew through the bodies of the humans they would transfer all of the pain and agony they was forced to endure to the unlucky invaders, driving them mad with pain and terror. And the nature of the spell made it impossible for the Belkans, who lacked the Al’Hazardian knowledge about the incorporeal beings, to protect themselves from this hideous assault. Signum wasn’t sure that even she could withstand this attack.

Once the already broken human could hope it’s over, another spell would be activated, forcefully pulling all of the escapees back into their jail. Consumed by the despair and terror, those souls would try to grab on the live force of the still lived humans in the corridor, but their broken mental state would reduce their resistance to zero and thus the incorporeal fugitives would not only extinguish the lives of the unfortunate ones but also rip their souls from their lifeless corpses to drag them into the same hell they were forced to live in and this obtaining a new comrades in man-made purgatory.

The very first time her master let the other security devices to attack the intruders – the group of mages from the land he recently forced into his dominion – she silently prayed, watching the spectacle of death with lingering dull pain, that three-damned carpet would burn out in the storm of fire.

Sword-wielding knight hoped that finally all those suffered souls would be free from their inhuman prison: they already died, why should her master continue to torture them and deny the right to go into the afterlife? She couldn’t understand such cruelty. And thus pinkette at least hoped that poor unfortunate souls would find a peace in the Gardens of Solace. But then, to her utmost shock (and despair) the screen show that carpet come out from the storm of fire that could melt the finest steel and destroy even the Shamal’s shield unscratched.

As if mocking her, the flickering flames, so similar to the flame that embraces her reliable sword, died away, unable to do anything to the terrible creation of ancient civilization. Was it a symbol of her own hopeless existence, where she unable to do anything but to kill the people under the order of her masters?

She shook her head, trying to fight those thoughts back, but for no avail. With each step she almost could feel the numerous purple marbles attached to the carpet’s backing – the container for the all unfortunate ones. As silly as it was, she couldn’t help but slam her boots into the cursed item with all her strength, hoping to crush just one marble and free the poor souls, trapped in it. Without this small ritual she was sure that she just snap, pull out the Laevanteinn and slice this all-cursed thing apart.

She would do this long ago, but her master, with his usual smile, told her innocently that he so love this beautiful carpet that, if he wound a slight gash on its surface, she couldn’t help but punish some of the castle’s maids, tasked with the ultimately deplorable task of taking care of a arcane device. Knowing how creative her master can be in the arts of torture Signum just couldn’t put the poor maidens in the line of her master… colorful imagination. And maniacal bloodlust, of course.

No-no, these thoughts was just too dangerous - she could easily endanger every people who serve her with their loyalty and vigor even if her master imagined what she thinks right now. But since he was a master of the Book of Darkness, her owner could literally look in her mind if he really wanted.

Thankfully, as unpleasant as they was, those thoughts occupied her mind for enough time to reach the point of her destination - a massive double door, forged form a dark-gray metal alloy and a round mirror (her master placed it there specially for her and Shamal as he claimed, which didn’t make any of them happy), framed by the brown wooden frame. Adjusting the sword’s scabbard on her belt, Signum couldn’t help but took a glance at her image in the mirror. The blue eyes of pink haired woman stared at her through a narrowed eyelids with a suspicious gaze.

With a memorized movement she untied the knot on the back on her head and let a long ponytail to fall on her back. Pink-haired mage preferred a stricter hairstyle, but her master find her outlook much more pleasant for his eyes when she gives her hairs more freedom and she obeyed.

She also checked her suit: purple jacket and dark green pants, decorated by golden sewing and pearl buttons, together with pair epaulettes each with three golden crescent moons on her shoulders, signalizing about her rank as a marshal. After a few moments Signum turned her attention to doors, now fully content with her preparations. Now she needed to go through the last procedure of identification and any mistake could cost her dearly.

She placed her right palm right on the door’s surface; the metal swallowed her flash like a silver bog. While sophisticated sensors scanned her DNA, checked her fingerprints and then compared the result with data-bank, she calmly imagined the sequence of images: the golden triangle on red ground, the white fish and green octopus on yellow ground and then the trio of red spiders on the green ground. Suddenly a window opened in front of Signum’s eyes, the green letters stated that Access Granted.

The dark gray metal pushed her palm out as door leaves sided into their slots in walls, allowing her to come into the chamber of the powerful nobleman. Wave of relief washed over her as her boots finally leaved the violet carpet to step on the granite slab, even the sound of her boot stepping on the rock sounds almost triumphantly. The sense of relief was very short-lived though, as her eyes meet the gaze of a man that sat on the edge of a massive bed.

On first look, said man just recently celebrated his twentieth birthday, though in reality he was almost two times older, aristocratic face with soft features made a sharp contrast with his muscular body – her eyes easily could tell that those muscles obviously were trained to crush other human beings into paste. Said body, right now, was barely covered by the edge of the soft blanket.

Ludwig Von Estenberg - ruler of an entire star system, whom she “united” by the power of powder and magic. One of the most wealthy grossherzogs of a Belkan Empirem who also boasted a terrible magical might – not many people in the realms of Belka could match him, and it was a rare occasion to meet someone who could subdue him by the strength (though, to her cold satisfaction, there was a few incidents, where her master was forced to retreat) Also, he was the owner of the Book of Darkness and thus - the master of her body and soul. Literally!

The pair of emerald green eyes stared on her from under his sleek dark hairs, with a mixed expression of mirth, and relaxed anticipation. The calm smile on his face grew wider as she drew closer with a perfectly neutral expression. She cringed inwardly, when she noticed that her liege wasn’t the single occupant of the bed: golden haired Knight of Lake slept soundly, curdling in the center of the spacious bed. It wasn’t hard to imagine what she did there with their master.

The room was a spacious cylindrical chamber, which could accommodate an entire platoon of soldiers. The grey stones of walls were barely seen beside the all carpets, sets of armor, bookshelves and racks. On the left side of room, from the door, stood a massive metallic table with a consol of the castle Control Device on its surface. Said couch – a canopy bed of an impressive size stood on the opposite point of the room from the entrance.

“As always, my beautiful marshal is as punctual as clock.” Noted Ludwig, taking a glance on decorated clocks that stood on the small wooden table on the right side of the bed – one of the ancient relics he… “saved” from its previous owner. “I’m truly impressive with you dutifulness and obedience, my dear Signum. As you sear, you beautify comrade, Shamal, already can’t perform her duty, out of fatigue.” Belkan nobleman reached out and carefully massaged Shamal’s left shoulder with his right hand. “But I’m know, that my fair and dutiful pink-haired maiden never disappoint.”

The formally dressed woman knew perfectly well that she was called perform the same task as Shamal. Even when master summoned her into his private chamber to discuss an urgent matter (all other matters he discussed in his cabinet a few levels lower) he never miss an opportunity to… check his beautiful marshal’s health, as he call it. And all facts stated that this night wouldn’t be an exception.

Without saying anything or waiting for obvious order, Signum removed the scabbard her sword from the belt and then quickly started to undress. When all her clothes lay beside her in neatly folded pile on the nearby chair, the pink haired woman strode toward her awaiting master.

~***~

There was not even a trace of strength left in her body as sweating and exhausted Signum snuggled into Shamals’ chest after the final fierce bout of lovemaking. Ludwig, to her surprise, wrapped his hand around her and golden haired medic’s waists and pull them closer. The sensation of strong arm being wrapped around her, together with warmth of their bodies, was very pleasant. But tired marshal still couldn’t fully relish in this feeling.

Signum never forgot her status as a slave. Despite her rank as marshal, despite the respect she earned from her subordinates, despite her fearsome reputation she gained on the fields of battle, she still was nothing more than an obedient serf of the castle’s master. Though, all other castle’s habitants wasn’t treated much better in this regard – the servants of grossherzog Ludwig knew very well what a horrifying fate awaits all those who dared to posse their master’s will. Though, as Signum admitted, Ludwig wasn’t cruel (at least toward his subjects) for sheer sake of it (mostly), and at least he rewarded richly the people, who exceed in their duties. And he never broke his words.

To her (and other Wolkenritters) astonishment, Ludwing nonchalantly declared that he had no intention to complete the Book to obtain its power. The green eyed man held an utmost confidence in his strength and magic. The pretty one-sided way her mock battle with him, which ended in her defeat, forced her and her comrades to admit that their new master’s boast wasn’t an empty bravado.

Instead, Ludwig took her, Shamal and Vita to live as his retainers in his castle, Zafira, on his part, received a rank of colonel and lead a sizable contingent of Belkan lord’ army to protect the border territories on recently “pacified” planet and already lead his forces toward victory in few brutal clashes. Despite the latest information of her comrade’s reward, SIgnum and Shamal shared a lingering unpleasant thought that their master wasn’t too happy that Zafira still didn’t give him the reason to punish him, or worse, they both could see that in the cold eerie glimmers in the depth of their owner’s eyes. Or was it an amusement…

They both feared this – their lord’s amusement was even more horrible than simple disgust. Ludwig was especially crafty when it comes to torture of the object of his “affection”.

Vita, in sharp contrast with her older companions, was pretty happy with the situation – bright and lively girl spent day after the day in trainings, various plays and other hobbies. Signum and Shamal loved their youngest companion dearly and were happy with all their hearts looking at her carefree expression. Castle maid and the young soldiers got along with her very well and never miss the opportunity to ether play with cheerful hammer-wielder or give a small redhead some gift of affection. Well, it could have been a mirror of cordial and friendly relationship blond pink-haired knights build up with older habitants of a massive fortress. In return Vita was more than happy to forge simple toy or helping mechanism to her friends.

In order to preserve Vita’s happy world they was prepared to lead the Ludwig armies together with him in battle (Signum again proved that her skills in leading the armies was even more impressive than her direct combat capabilities), create a new weaponry of destruction (Zafira and Vita, despite their look, was a truly splendid masters)for him, or serve their lord in the bed (it wasn’t new for Signum and Shamal to offer their bodies for their master’s pleasure, though Shamal took the brunt of this “duty” this time).

Right now cuddling with her master bed, reluctantly, Signum admitted that new owned of the Book of Darkness know how to please a woman. Still, it didn’t make the situation in which she and Shamal was much better. She and blond healer just uphold their part of bargain they made a month ago: if she, Knight of Biting Blade Signum and Lady of the Lake Shamal would remain his faithful and loving companions as long as he treat Zafira with respect and dignity and wouldn’t put a hand on Vita and let her keep her blissful lifestyle.

It wasn’t the most ironclad contract in universe and relies mostly on their lord’s word. But for now it worked: Zafira lead entire army corps now, as verification of his skills and Vita played happily in the gardens of halls of a massive citadel, while she and her old friend used their bodies to pleasure their masters whenever he wished and in any way together with using their skills and magic to help him to rule his lands, or expand the territory of Von Estenberg family.

She couldn’t say it was the beast life, but, on other hand, the knights of the Book of Darkness often were treated in much rougher fashion, so she couldn’t truly complain. Vita was happy and Zafira was unharmed, for the sake of her precious comrades she would pay any price. Shame, she couldn’t save Sahaml from this fate, but blond woman would be furious if she tried to put all weight on her own shoulders.

Consumed by combined warmth of her friends and her liege and the coziness of the bed, Signum slowly succumbed to peaceful slumber.

~***~

The evening weather was surprisingly warm for autumn on Belka and thus Signum didn’t take her coat with her when she went for a walk. The sunset colored the sky on a horizon above the ocean, giving a lone marshal a beautiful panorama to enjoy.

The cliff near the Estenberg’s ancestral house was richly decorated with a numerous flowers and was the most favorite places for castle inhibitions when they wanted to prepare a simple but lovely gift for their beloved ones. To Signum’s surprise - today she wasn’t an exception: as she slowly walked among the ocean of plants, her eyes catches the sight of a certain flower.

The dark-red flower with a six petals lurked in the thickets of the tall grass, defiantly fighting for its own survival against all odds, stubbornly sucking all remaining nutrients from the earth. The Grey Whiz wasn’t to popular among the girls of the castle – it’ didn’t had the remarkably good smell, neither was he outstandingly beautify; his petals had an uncommon fluffy texture and even after being plucked he could live for very long time, fighting the death us long as he could.

Those traits made him Vita’s most beloved flower and Signum couldn’t miss the opportunity to give her comrade (and baby sister, as she, Shamal and Zafira consider the smallest Wolkenritter) a present, that made her even happier.

Carefully parting the thickets, Signum used a knife, she always had with her with addition to Laevanteinn, to dig the flower from the ground with its root. Gently holding the flower with her index big and middle fingers, pinkett dashed toward the massive gates.

Walking under the massive arch of the gate, Wolkenritters’ leader noticed the large amount of the richly decorated vehicles, that carried banners of the various belkan herzogs – seems that the important guests, which were invited a month ago, finally arrived. She needs to hurry up then – her master give her the right to omit the gala dinnerm but he would demand her presence at the following war council.

She sped up toward the entrance, fiving a small hand gesture to the gatekeepers. To her surprise they didn’t reply with the greeting hand-shake on their own, limiting themsekves only to a small nod. A closer inspection revealed those soldiers as members of a grossherzog Ludwi’s personal company. Seems, that her master really valued today’s meeting, if he put his personal warriors on guardian duty. And Signum also wanted to spend some time with her little sister too.

She started to move even faster. While the dinner could be pretty long, due to castle impressive size, it would take her a time for her to reach the room, occupied by red-head hammer-user.

Eventually Signum came across Vita's room and opened the door, wondering if maybe the girl was asleep. When she saw that, no, Vita was neither asleep nor in the room, Signum started to really worry. It wasn't completely obvious on her face, but rather, in her actions, as she turned and started to walk faster through the castle's hallways. "Vita? Vita?" She called out, hoping that she was somewhere nearby.

"Signum?" That voice didn’t belong to Vita, but it was still the voice of her dear comrade. Truring around, pinkette found the pale-faced Knight of Lake, who wear the simple green dress and black shoes, only her very expensive necklace with her master personal insignia showed her status. Her red eyes were filled with worry. Signum’s heart skipped a beat.

"Shamal." She nodded, thankful to see the other Knight. "I was looking for Vita, have you seen her?" Shamal shook her head. "Strange, even in a castle this large, she would have contacted us by now if something was happening."

"I'm rather worried..." Shamal was fidgeting and looking around; anxiety was plain to see on her face. "I hope she's not hurt."

"Even if she was, our master could fix her." Cruel as that sounded, to Signum, it was the only way to keep her sane. After all, if Vita was badly hurt and they couldn't heal her...

She didn't want to think about it. But then why her instinct almost roars from the anxiety?! Looking around Signum finally started to notice the glimpse of the growing treat – the servants moved around faster, their voices was heard much rarer and was tenser. They were nervous and scared – not a good sight.

Now pair of knight redoubled their efforts in search of their small redhead comrade. They scout each place, where Vita liked to play, each corner she could sit to play or enjoy the presents Shamal, Signum or one of maids, who liked to spoil “little warrior girl” give to her. But there was no result and with each passed second the dark bubble of fear in knight’s leader chest grows larger and larger. As their anxiety continues to grow, two women decided to move for separate routes to cover wider territory, upholding a video contact with each other.

The traces of fear on Shamal’s face, whom she contacted now almost each minute, made it even worse. Signum know, that she shouldn’t fear too much – they were in the heart of Lord Ludwig’s territory, his most powerful fortress. They were surrounded by the soldiers. She trained so hard, and they were armed with best, weaponry, most advanced vehicles and most lethal spells. Still, the fear didn’t go away, all her instincts scream that unimaginable tragedy coming, and only very bad soldier wouldn’t listen to his instincts.

Signum meet Shamal one more time after another ten minutes of desperate search. After quick exchange of thoughts blonde and pinkette decided to ask for help. It could be not the best idea, but they frankly didn’t care about that already. Quickly dashing forward, Signum called out for one of the castle’s maids – Henrietta, one of the most lively and friendly girls in this citadel, was so pale that her skin on her plump cute cheeks seemed almost bluish and there was a tears in the corners of her brown eyes.

"Have you seen Vita?" Signum;s voice was pretty calm, and only Shamal, Zafira or Vita would be able to tell that tall woman was damn near panicking. The Henrietta though openly panicked for a moment but them thrown herself into Signum’s chest crying desperately. For all her fear for her dear comrade, Signum wasn’t heartless enough to push crying girl away when she in such pain, even if time was against her. It was easier to do, since Henrietta was a very sweet and helpful girl, whose attempts to sneak a present into Signum or Shamal’s rooms, whom she adored so much, unnoticed were utterly adorable. Signum was much more successful in sneaking a little brooch with letter of gratitude into young maid’s room.

“V-Vita…! Help her, dame Signum!!” After mustering all her remaining strength, cried out raven-haired girl, choking on her own tears, the space around her eyes and nose quickly grow redder and redder. Shamal also was on the verge of breaking, biting her lower lip so hard that blood already stained her teethes, her eyes wide open and her finger dug into the flesh of her arms. Signums still managed to hold herself together but only for Shamal and Hentietta’s sake.

“T-today grossherzog Ludwig had a meeting with his partners…” Henrietta, sensing their state tried her best to quickly get to the right info. “A-a-and when they moved to his private room… one of them noticed dame Vita-a-AH!” She yelped sharply in mix of terror and grief, but now Shamal joined her. Signum paled - she just couldn’t believe what she heard – her master blatantly attacked Vita! B-but he give them his word to leave her alone! He did promise that she would be treated nicely!!!

“They dragged her like a rag-doll!!” The despair threatened to completely overwhelm Henrietta who was sick from worry and terror for her dear friend. “Head maid tried to stop them b… but.. our Herr… oh Gott he dragged her in too!! He shoot head-maid Agatha unconscious!! They dragged dame Vita and head-maid Agatha with them!!! Please SAVE THEM, DAME SIGNUM!!!”

This final bloodcurdling scream drained what was left from unnerved girl’s strength and young maiden went limp in pink-haired knight’s hands. Despite the tempest which rampaged in her soul, Signum carefully carried Henrietta to nearest couch so raven-haired girl could have a rest. She waited until the moment when Shamal created the spell that would give poor girl a nightmare-free nap and then both women darted through the maze of corridors, aiming to reach the castle’s owner chamber as fast as it possible.

The castle was pretty large and his rooms were connected by a sophisticated net of passages, elevators and corridors. It could have a long time for normal person to find a way to his goal, but Shamal’s Klarer Wind already calculated a shortest way, which was shown by a small window that appeared before Signum, also a faithful device helped them greatly by opening the doors when they come closer. The furniture, the technical equipment and all other unmoving objects blended together into insane phantasmagoria of images before their eyes.

The rage and terror struggle for dominance in the souls of the Wolkenritters as they continued to shorten the gap between them and the elevator that would drive them to the last level of the main tower. Seems that either she walked for too long or grossherzof Ludwig and his gueasts decided to have some fun before the dinner. But why master betrayed them like this?! She and Shamal never break their agreement, they do whenever he wished! Then why?! Why did he did this to Vita?!”

The servants and soldiers, they meet on their way, hurried to give them a pass. Signum couldn’t help but notice their pitied and shamed glances – they also were shocked and repulsed by their master’s behavior, who pretty much betrayed his loyal knight. Though, considering his temper, someone could easily say that there was always a possibility for Ludwig’s temper to go out of control.

Signum almost smashed the consol in the elevator with her fit when she and Shamal jumped in. The doors closed and the cabin shoots upward, aiming to overcome the distance that separate two women from their target. In the enclosed space, where she have no way to went, Signum’ own self-control started to crumble. She started to nervously snap the finger on both hands repeatedly, her breath gradually fastened together with heartbeats. Shamal on her part whined softly as her slender body quivered slightly under the pressure of all her bottled up emotions.

The quick jolt declared about the fact that elevator reached the floor and both knights tensed preparing themselves. While they had the “privilege” of having almost free pass to their master’s private room today belkan grossherzog could have put a block on their pass, considering the situation. But when Shamal, armed with Klarer Wind moved from the elevator the reading on the screen that float before her face told both her and Signum that they still can move forward without problems.

Signum didn’t care about the deadly automatons, dangerous traps or even hellish carpet when she sped toward the door, she needed to check her little com… sister’s condition and this was the sole important thing right now.

Her palm was slammed into the door with the might enough to reverberate through the bones in her upper body. Still, the years of the experience allowed her to still hold her wrath and fear in check. The well-known “Access Granted” window appeared and then two women barged into the room.

Great Creator!!

The scene before them was so nightmarish that Signum and Shamal almost believed that they both have hallucinations. Both knights could only stare in shock and horror as pair of naked man continued to cheerfully rape Vita, hollering and shouting in delight. Small knight’s body was covered in bruises, just like her battered face, and, to the other Wolkenritter’s horror, all over smaller girl’s body, there was a ”certain substance” too. Vita’s hairs, usually treated so carefully, were now in complete disorder and there were places where her red threads were brutally plucked out. Her movement were weak and Shamal desperately hoped that one of mans simply pin Vita, by her neck and didn’t try to actually choke her.

But the worst part was the tear-filled eyes of their precious comrade. Usually so lively and bright azure orbs, now they look almost grey for all pain, despair and sheer betrayal that dimmed Vita’s vision. The incoherent cried they could hear was muted by the “foreign object” that occupied petite warrior’s mouth.

She was broken – utterly humiliated, tortured and betrayed by her liege, who didn’t keep his words and her friend, who wasn’t there to save her. She couldn’t say that, since her rapists ha no intention to go easy on her, but Signum and Shamal could heard her pitiful cried with their entire beings. Blond woman now was on her knees crying as desperately as their devastated little sister. Signum simply couldn’t say anything, she couldn’t move, couldn’t think, she just stood her, looking at the horrifying panorama.

The pleasure-filled howl of their dear friend’s tormentors shattered their trance. Vita’s eyes went wide and she started to twitch uncontrollably, desperately trying to get away. Satisfied their lust, the beasts let the girl to fall on the sheets, coughing and chocking, gripping her neck, which was marred with repulsive bluish dots where fingers of her assailant fug into her flesh with dangerous force, with her right arm while her left hand tried to cover her violated lower body.

Vita, coughing still, looked up and Signum felt her heart shatter into millions of pieces at the look she saw. Defeated, crushed, utterly broken. Vita, the unbreakable Iron Hammer Knight; Vita, the spitfire girl who enthusiastically taught the young ones how to defeat themselves and then played with those children no less cheerfully. Vita, the little girl who was like a sister to her....

Those eyes were not the eyes of the Vita she knew. The hideous crime that was committed todat took her precious comrade away from them.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t end yet as one of males rolled her around, obviously desiring to resume his vile act. But this time Signum had no intention to let this happen – her fingers wrapped around Laevanteinn’s hilt, preparing to charge and kill. She almost could see how her sword would, moving in violent arch, jam into and then cut off the upper half of first rapist’s skull, to move then downright, biting into the second bastard’s neck.

“Halt!” The sharp command reverberated across the room and her charge broke instantly. The all-crushing power twisted pinkette’s will, forcing her to obey the damned word that forbids her to help distressed red-head. Barely forcing her muscled to work, Signum twist her upper body on the direction from where come those words.

Ludwig Von Estenderg, dressed in a formal two piece suit sat on his chair, with his hands relaxing on the armrests. The index finger of his right hand touched the golden cross, engraved in brown cover of a book that jauntily lay on his knees. His eyes passively inspected his enraged and shocked knight.

“Wh-why… master…?” Croaked Shamal, as Signum was unable to speak right now, moving her cloudy gaze from her liege to her feebly struggling friend, whose attempts to fight back simply amuse her captors. “Why… do you hurt… Vita like that?”

Ludwig shrugged at her inquire slightly. With the same emotionless, as his expression, voice he answered to Lady of the Lake tear-filled question.

“In order to gain the support of those gentlemen’s favor an support I was required to show my hospitality and ability to give a pleasant service, my dear. Unfortunately knight Vita and head-maid Agatha’s bodies caught the attentions of my guests”

Once those words were uttered pair of Wolkenritters managed to catch a faint cry of despair and pain. Signum avert her gaze slightly to find a door in her master’s small private library. Seem that right now the vault of knowledge was used to brutally rape a woman, who was unfortunate to live in this place.

Shamal whined again – Agatha Schwalbenschwanz was one of her dearest friends outside Wolkenritters. The fifty-fifth years old woman was the very first being in castle who greeted them with respect and care. After spending years, working together at keeping castle’s denizens safe, it was too painful for Shamal to imagine that energetic and caring woman was used to satisfy a lust of a shameless nobles was just too painful for a blond woman. The pained glints in Signum’s eyes her that sword-user also was disgusted by such treatment of a kind and loyal servant.

“You!” Snarled pink-haired mage-warrior, finally finding strength to fight back the left-over presence of Book of Darkness subjugating force. Her glare though still failed to invoke any response from Ludwig. “You promised us that you wouldn’t touch Vita!!” The last words come out as a thunderous roar, which stalled even the pair of gleeful herzogs, who cruelly toyed with crying red-headed hammer-user.

“And?” Raised his eyelids slightly Ludwig, staring into Signum’s burning eyes. “Do I touch her? As you can see - I simply sit there and look. Nothing more.” Those callous words infuriate Signum even more and even Shamal started to show the glimpses if awakening rage – namely the green light started to leak through her fingers that dug into the flesh of her legs with a force enough to piece the fabric of her dress.

“Thi-this is a nothing more but a play with words, master!” The virulence in leader of Wolkenritter’s voice grew with each passed second, and there was even a small amount of foam gather at very edges of her mouth. The rage she never felt in her entire existence threatened to explode any second. “Not I not Shamal never attempted to violate both the spirit and letter of our contract!! So why did YOU so casually betrayed your own word! An even our dear comrade wasn’t concerned, how could you betray dame Agatha who very much helped raised you, master.”

This time Signum pretty much spat those words, ignoring the very quiet inner voice that warned her that any attempt to argue with her owner wouldn’t do any good to her.

“No..! N-no… NOOOOOOOO!!!!” Vita’s desperate howls that suddenly pierced the air was promptly silenced but Signum didn’t even needed (not that she even wanted to turn around and see) to turn around to see what happened. The horny fiends got too consumed by their carnal desires to care about what happen, or they expected that Ludwig would protect them again?

“Well, I admit that Agatha’s case wasn’t planned. But she hurt one of my honored guests – she lunged at him when he dragged his “prize” and slashed him across the face. I was forced to give her in order to sooth my partners anger.” Ludwig seemed to sincere believe that his actions was justified. His ironclad belief, that his betrayal of his word and his disregard of the life of his most devoted subject wasn’t an act of a unbelievable treachery infuriated Signum to no end. All her self-control and senses of cautiousness were overwhelmed by sheer berserker rage and vengeful wrath

“Y-y-you think… that you would be able to maintain a proper relationship… with you loyal vassals... after such misconduct?” Blue eyed swordsoman’s voice now dripped with venom as he glared daggers at the cruel man, who sat before her. The air around her quivered from the scorching heat, emanated by her body.

“In normal circumstances – no.” Admitted Ludwig with a thoughtful nod. With a fascinated look he continued. ”For a magical constructs you all managed to gain a impressive support and admiration among my servants in this castle. And when the truth about this evening come out I will face… irritating rise of insubordination and disloyal thoughts. So I prepared a set of countermeasures.”

Those last words made both women jolt in a sudden increase of anxiety and fear for some reason.
“The jamming of all transmissions, the change in the shift’s schedule to make all eople who acquainting with you, the replacement of all soldiers on the guardian duty with my personal unit... Well, I think you can easily deduce what will happen after such blatant hints. Right, my dear Signum?”

The tidal wave of a rage, mixed with horror overwhelmed a pink-haired woman’s self-control in a moment. The fiend, who sat before her, not just broke his word and let a prideless beasts to ravage their comrade and his pretty much surrogate mother. He also casually sentenced all his loyal subject to death only to cover his own dishonorable nature.

‘STIRB!!!” The loud clacking sound of cartridge’s discharge a split second later was drown in a bloodcurdling howl of a mage-knight and a furious roar of flame that erupted from Laevanteinn’s hilt to engulf entire blade. The trained body of the lady of battle was sent in a bindingly fast charge, as flaming sword explode in a demonic blazing snake, darting toward the belkan grossherzog, who had no time to escape this murderous strike. Signum couldn’t activate her Barrier Jacket due to the room’s special security system, but she had her loyal blade and she was more than drive to achieve her goal.

Ludwig didn’t even try to escape. His eye flared and glimmering purple triangle-shaped energy shield deflected the initial attack of a flame-engulfed metal. The blazing snake bounce back but recovered in a matter of one second, Signum landed on a floor right on a front of Ludwig, sending a powerful round-house kick into his guts.

“Panzer Handschuh.” Coldly declared a ring-shaped Armed Device on red-eyed man’s right hand and then, this hand was embraced by a thick areola of energy. His left hand, already balled in a fist when Signum started her assault, smashed into the base of pinkette’s boot. Signum’s face twitched in a grimace of pain while her body stumbled backward as the Laevanteinn’s master lost her balance, Shamal desperately hoped that the quiet crunch was not a sound of her friend’s cracked bone.

Still, the attack wasn’t broken yet - the Laevanteinn, obeying his mistress wish, send the whirling blade into Ludwig’s face again. Zigzagging through the air with incredible speed, the razor-sharp tip of the sword descended on the soulless green-eyed traitor. Ludwig meets the attack head-on with amused cold smile – the small glimmering triangles appeared one after another in the way of a blazing line of destruction and Laevantainn was forced to change the direction of an attack again and again when the tip of a blade repeatedly failed to pierce enemy shield. And Shamal could see that powerful sword that cleaved many shield in thousands of battles lost it’s strength after each collision.

But still the stubborn sword didn’t yield and flame engulfed blade finally darted forward to pierce the face of the man who stood finally was forced to stand up to repel the murderous strike. The arm, which was wrapped in energy cocoon flashed toward the blade, catching it in mid-air. The loud boom reverberate across the room making all other people in room, minus Signum and Ludwig, cringe slightly, the pair of rapists, who stop their vile act when Signum went for her master’s life now just sit there (though still pinning slightly struggling Vita down) and now watched the show, that take place in the room with a cheerful amusement.

The sparks fly as Signum, who finally regained her sense and sprung on her legs, tried to pull her weapon free from her master’s clutch. To Shamal’s (and Signum’s secret) dismay her efforts had no effect as Ludwig with the same worry-free expression held the cord with no visible efforts. The flames couldn’t chew through hid field and as time continued to flow, expanding purple field started to extinguish the fire, as the spell continued to drain the mana from the blue-eyed warrior’s sword.

Changing the tactic, Signum suddenly ordered Laevanteinn to use few more cartridges and release gout of fire through the entire length of a composite blade length. The black haired man answered with a shot of a long purple spiral-shaped spell that rammed into the flame right between two combatants. The fire roared, recoiling a bit from the collision, before charging forward again with a loud roar tearing into the purple ”snake”. But the short delay proved to be fatal – while flame started to bit into the “head” of s “snake” it’s tail transformed into the large lens-shaped shield, that not just stopped the advance of a fire, but redirected it backward.

Signum managed to react in time and cancel the wave of flame with a counter-blast that eat even more cartridges. But before she could do anything Ludwig decided to gain an initiative.

Grossherzog Von Estenberg boast to have truly a monstrous physical strength - the combination of a genetic manipulations, spells and cybernetic enchantment made him into a force of nature in a close combat, Shamal even saw one time how her master lifted a multi-ton weight rock with just one hand. Such strength and his impressive skills with weaponry made him into a very terrible opponent even for a experienced knights like Signum and Vita (Vita admitted that master could even caught her Gigant Hammer even without help of his spell casting).

Ludwig’s primary magic specialization was, surprisingly, barriers, shields and binds. Many mages commit a lethal mistake, considering that this should put him at disadvantage in a showdown with a skilled combat-oriented mages and thus forcing him to rely on his forces in a battle. But many previous battles she witnessed and current engage was good testament of how deadly could be shield in a battle if their wielder have a strength of giant and a sharp mind of a skilled strategist (though Signum still could defeat him in a war games in half of their matches).

Increasing the strength of his grip, Ludwig sharply pulled the still trapped Laevanteinn toward himself. The sheer power of jolt sent Signum stumbling forward, which resulted in Signum’s face being rammed into another small shield, which Ludwig created right in the trajectory of her fall.

The burst of pain overwhelmed her senses for a moment, but she could heard the terror-filled cries of Vita and Shamal. Through the haze of agony she still could sense how binds appear on her hands, pinning then with the hilt of her loyal sword. And then Ludwig slammed her face into his shield again, and again, and again…

Shamal’s desperate pleas, Vita’s anguish cries and laughter of her tormentors were the last things she heard before her consciousness fades away.

Her entire body jolted violently as she forcefully hurled herself back into reality. But when she pen her eyes there was a comfy room, filled with cozy and gentle atmosphere, not a suffocating air of torture chamber or prison cell of the castle Estenberg. Wait, what was this castle Estenberg in first place.

Nanoha Takamachi-Scrya shook her head, trying to clean her mind. She never saw a dream this précis – she sensed the smells, she feels a touches. And she saw her dear friend Vita being abused and alongside touches, even now, she could feel the faint echo of agony. Nanoha hastily moved her hands to touch her nose – it wasn’t broken at all. How could it be - after all those savage strikes?

Auburn haired woman started to shiver – as she recovered from her dream, her brain finally get that her body, covered in cold sweat, exposed to fresh atmosphere of a room with opened window.

“Nanoha…” The wheezed voices from both sides bring her back into reality of the bedroom she happily shared with two her spouses. The slender hand grasp her right shoulder, being a soldier gave Signum an advantage of quick awakening over her husband.

Nanoha jolted when she heard the voice of her co-wife and turn around to check her well-being. Now she remembered that – no matter how absurdly its sounds – she was a Signum in this vivid dream. Oh kami, she almost whined when she remember the savage beating her beloved co-instructor received and purple-eyed woman leaned forward to inspect her wife’s body (especially, her face).

Signum almost yelped when Nanoha pressed their foreheads and noses together, while brunette’s hands carefully cupped Signum’s cheeks. Pinkette shrugged, when her hot and dry skin got pressed against Nanoha’s own drenched in a cold sweat. Still, the lovely face of her wife was enough to compensate for all those small inconveniences. Unable to resist the temptation, Signum shifted her head slightly and claimed Nanoha’s lips.

Nanoha was shocked by this development, though only for second, as pinkettes strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulling brunette closer into warmth of Signum’s chest. A good long loving kiss from the people you love the most – what could make you forget all your worries better? The two women purred into the kiss, when amused Yuuno crawl closer to hug both of them, pressing his body against Nanoha’s back, shielding his beloved auburn-haired wife from the cold, while enjoying the feeling of his pink-haired love’s silky hairs against the skin of his arms.

The anxiety was melted away by the combined warmth and caresses oh her soul-mates, who continued to pamper her. And when energized Nanoha parted with Signum she immediately turn around to engage her blond husband into a bout of fierce kissing, showing him her gratitude and love.

Signum giggled quietly when Yuuno get the opportunity to pull Nanoha into the embrace and then cradle her in his arms, which make brunette very happy and very embarrassed on the same time. Their trio really could get over passionate when they were alone but after all nightmares and loses they went through Yuuno, Signum and Nanoha just couldn’t stop showing each other how much those bond were precious to them.

Of course, once Yuuno put Nanoha, whose expression was a mix between pout and bliss, down Signum moved in to get her own kiss too. Now it was Nanoha’s turn to smile, as she saw pink-haired woman being overpowered by a golden-haired man in their playful wrestling. He smile promptly died away, when all of sudden before her eyes appeared a sharply clear image of Vita being pinned down and being kissed very hungrily too. But unlike Signum, she didn’t moan in delight, she cried and whined as her dignity as a woman was trampled on.

Signum and Yuuno also sensed the shidt in their wife’s mood and broke the kiss to look at her. Nanoha blushed in a shame, understanding that she soured the sweet moment, but still, she just couldn’t remain silent. She need to know.

“Signum-chan…” Nasnoha paused, trying to figure out how she can start a conversation? It could be that she just had a very colorful dream and caused a ruckus for a insignificant reason. But the images she saw were so clear and the feelings she felt was so real, especially the rage, sorrow, despair and betrayal. “Do you know the man called… Ludwig Estenberg?”

The loud gasp, emitted by pinkette, reverberates across their bedroom like a thunderclap. Signum’s blue eyes shoot wide open, while her mouth quickly pressed into a tight line, but what drag Nanoha and Yuuo’s attention the most was her hand – pinkette’ strong fingers dug into the flesh of her legs with enough strength to draw a blood. Yet, Signum didn’t care, she just sit there on her knees, pale and motionless. Her body was paralyzed by a storm of emotions that currently rampage in the depth of her eyes.

“Signum!” Exclaimed chief-librarian and combat instructor as they darted toward their shocked wife, but Signum regained her sense and stopped them with a raised hand. She took a few deep breathes, trying to calm herself down – she partly succeeded, as her eyes regained their usual shine, yet her expression now was downtrodden.

“Nanoha…” Said woman and the green eyed mage shudder at the sheep pain in the sword-wielding woman’s hoarse voice. “Where did you heard this name?”

“Um, well… I saw a dream Signum-chan.” Trying to suppress the brewing storm of panic, fidgeting and confused Nanoha tried to explain. “I saw you, wearing a unknown to me uniform, serving the man with this name. He was one of Book of Darkness previous owners… right?”

The sheer pain in pinkette’s eyes at the sounds of this name makes Nanoha to cringe and Yuuno to gasp. Their anxiety only increased tenfold when the lips of usually strong and reserved woman started to quiver. With wavering voice Signum almost whispered.

“You saw something horrible, right Nanoha? Something utterly disturbing? Something that hurt you right, love? It’s because of that you woke up and behaved this way?”

Nanoha could only nod silently at that inquire – the naked pain and despair in her wife’s eyes muted brunette better than a gag. Nanoha now cursed herself for her stupid question. Couldn’t she just shut up, or joke her way out? Why she just blurted this out and hurt her precious Signum-chan like that?! But it was too late to back off now, Signum asked her and she would answer.

“I…I saw you picking a flower for Vita-chan. A very cute flower, I must say.” Her attempt to abide Signum’s pain was futile as pinkette gritted her teethes, when Nanoha mentioned red-head girl. Almost crying Nanoha forced the last words from her dry mouth. “And I saw… how Vita-chan was ra… mistreated…”

Signum let out a horrible sound – a mix between snarl, laughter and wail. Now pretty terrified Nanoha and Yuuno spare not time to lunge forward and hug their suffered wife, whose eyes started to leak. Quivering their arms, Signum still find a strength to give her spouses an apologetic glance before starting her story.

“Ludwig Estenberg was an grossherzog – a grand duke of Belkan Empire. He was a powerful lord that ruled over a large territory when Book of Darkness chooses him as its owner. He was not only a powerful leader, he was also an excellent mage that didn’t even need the might of the Book of Darkness, and so we became his attendants.”

She paused to swallow the saliva that filled her mouth. The memories, that started to come back, threatened to split her soul. Signum couldn’t even describe how happy she was that Nanoha and Yuuno was there to help and share her pain.

“Unfortunately, there is no such thing as ideal beings, and while there was many compliments you could say about him as a warrior, administrator or strategist, there was no good thing you could say about him as a human being. He was sadistic, cruel, self-absorbed individual and he did a very good job to turn our service to him into the most nightmarish period in our entire existence. I think I can declare him the worst of our masters”

Nanoha and Yuuno didn’t even need telepathy to share a worried thought. How badly she was treated to consider this man as a worst master? They didn’t know how many years Wolkenritters soend being an obedient slaves of the Book of Darkness’ owners, but it wasn’t hard to imagine how badly situation could went if the master of Signum, Vita, Shamal and Zafira decided to went his rage on unresisting targets. If this Ludwig was the worst of all, he really should have a bad temper.

“When he ordered his automatons to marsh all over prisoners, who already couldn’t fight back after all torture they’re endured., we get the idea that he is absolutely not a good man. But at least he know to restrain himself when he dealt with his own subjects and thus I and Shamal made a deal with him – my and Shamal ABSOLUTE loyalty and service in exchange for Vita and Zafira’s safety. But…” Her voice broke, though Wolkenritter’s leader quickly regained her composure. “But in the end, just like Nanoha said, he simply went on and let his depraved friends to rape Vita! Even a loyal and faithful woman who served him much longer than we had was tossed aside!! And then, and then…!!!”

Once those words goes out something snapped in Signum’s soul. The strangled cry escaped her throat as pinkette struggled to control her rampant emotions. Finally the tears broke out as Signum Takamchi-Scrya fall onto Yuuno’s chest, while being tightly hug by him and Nanoha.

Signum always tried her best to hold all her worries and passions inside – as a servant of Book of Darkness she didn’t had the luxury to show a weakness in front of her master. The only place, where Book of Darkness allowed her to release her bottled up emotions was a battle.

Signum could receive a small margin of freedom only in the heat of the battle and thus she couldn’t help by enjoy the blazing fire of the fierce clash, as they melt her shackles even if for a while. Even after being awaken in the care of their beloved lady Hayate, Signum decided to hide her weakness behind the mask and became strength to her family. The constant fierce and memorable battles with Nanoha allowed Signum to understand the brunette well.

Nanoha Takamachi suffered greatelly in her past. To be specific – she cursed herself for being unable to help people she cherished the most. And thus she give herself an oath to became strong and in future be able help people in need.

Constant mock battles, where Levantein collide with Raising Heart again and again, pinkette understood that Nanoha prohibit herself to show her weak side in front of everyone. Nanoha;s radiant and cheerful smile was beacon of hope and source of confidence for many soldiers of TSAB and even her friends.

But she still was a human – her strength had its limits and inner doubts and turmoil still tormented her inside. The constant clashes between Laevantein and Raising Hear revealed to Signum that, just like she herself, Nanoha could let all of her worried go only in the battle.

This similarity between them was the reason that Signum was able to find dangerous cracks in Nanoha’s spirit during the Eclipse Incident after they lost Fate Testarossa. There was a small hints of distortion in purple eyed mage’s soul - the increased nervousness, insomnia and even a small attention disorder. But everyone was so affected by increasing loses, so pressed by their dutues that they failed to notice.

Signum also was in a pretty bad shape, grieving over the lost of Zafira and other of her dear subordinates and was in desperate need to vent, but bloody feast of Eclipse Incident already leaved very deep scars on her spirit already. Each time she tried to indulge herself in the battle, which usually helped her to release her worries, she started to see the nightmarish image of a eclipse-infected blade, slicing through her dear comrade’s neck, killing him permanently since the Reanimation Protocol ceased to exist with Book of Darkness. She couldn’t believe that she would curse the absence of an ancient relic, clutches of whom she dreamed to escape so long.

There was even a time when she just tossed Laevnteinn with scream when during her sparring with Erio he deflected her blow with his barrier-wrapped fist in the manner too similar to Zafira’s battle style for her grief-consumed mind to took. It goes so far that any attempts to continue the battle started to create the vivid nightmare that Guardian Beast’s life was claimed by her sword and pinkette literally throw the fight.

In a ghastly irony of fate, the radiant flames of battle that warmed her heart and soul now became a scorching hellfire that tormented Signum Yagami to no end.

But Nanoha asked her for sparring match on her own and piunkette didn’t disagree. She had the idea that Nanoha asked her mostly to forget about her pains in the heat of battle, but Signum decided that she need to help her friend – if she can escape the clutches of despair, at least someone will. Even if it blissful state would just for a while, Nanoha Takamchi deserved to get some help.

But during their clash Signum, to her growing horror, starts to understand that Nanoha Takamchi almost reached the breaking point. And pinkette, to her own shame, get why – they all forget about the fact that Nanoha was a human too and that she could be in desperate need of help. Erio, Vita, lady Hayate and many other come often to her hoping to find a shoulder to cry on and words of encourage. But, due to their own intense grief, they failed to notice how hard it was to Nanoha. Though, to her friends’ credit, they didn’t get a clue because Nanoha was good at hiding growing despair and constant agony.

But Nanoha still suffered, her heart bleed as much as other do, but the brave woman forced herself to hide her own pain, since she cared about her comrades too much and didn’t want them to worry about her. And thus she silently spiraled downright through the patch of self-destruction as the death toll continued to rise.

Clearly understanding how close Nanoha was to the line, Signum decided to interference. She did something Nanoha couldn’t even imagine her to do. In the middle of their clash Signum, repeat Raising Heart’s thrust with an upward strike that almost ripped the device from brunette’s hands, and let her chest wide open. But instead or pressing the attack Signum toss her sword away and tackled her adversary, making Nanoha to drop Raising Heart. And then she simply hovered in air, tightly hugging the shocked woman, stroking her hairs and quietly asking Nanoha to finally allow herself to cry.

Purple haired woman tried to argue, tried to state that she is okay, but as Signum continued to pamper her (as clumsy as it was) the warmth of pinkette’s body and her gentle words continued to melt the ice Nanoha created around the wound on her heart. And soon the radiant and powerful Ace of Aces cried desperately in General of Blazing Fire’s arms. The remaining strength soon fades away and Signum was forced to give powerless brunette princesses carry.

Swordswoman carried Nanoha into the restroom and let her sleep on her laps, knowing how badly brunette needed a support right now. Being not very apt in the art of consoling, Signum decided to call Nanoha’s closest friend - a chief-librarian Yuuno Scrya and asked the worry-struck archaeologist to help her with Nanoha.

This evening was a turning point in her life, as Signum admitted looking back. A start of her close friendship and then love with Nanoha Takamachi and Yuuno Scrya.

The tears slowly continued to fall, dragging her pain with and them. The tight embrace of her family shielded her from the cold of the outside world. As time continued to flow, the incoherent sobs stats to fade away and eventually Signum raised her head, revealing her still tear-soaked but already smiling face, even though it was a pretty small smile.

Nanoha give her wife a equally small relieved smile before gently touching her face and carefully starting to wipe the tears from her beloved pinkette’s face, while Yuuno continued to rub Signum’s back comfortingly, also happy to see that swordswoman overcoming her grief. In the past year he many times was forced to endure the scenes when his precious wifes succumbed to the sorrow and pain. At the moments like that it was up for him – Yuuno Scrya – to comfort them, to abide their pain and, if needed, to carry them to the place where Nanoh and/or Signum could let this poison off their souls.

Yuuno was glad that Vivio and other girls – so smart and dutiful for their years – helped him in Infinity Libraru and thus give him much more time to be with his beloved ones. Otherwise Infinity Library would suffered a huge downfall in the efficiency of the work, due to often absence of the Chief Librarian. But blond archeologist made it clear that the well-being of his family is his top priority – after all years when Nanoha and Signum was a TSAB strength, now it was his time to be their support.

There was many shocked faces when Yuuno Scrya join the combat training exercises a first time. But it was time for him to grow strong and protect people dear to him. There was no more luxury of a support mage role for him anymore. His beloved ones and his comrades needed him to be strong when the trouble arises.

“Thank you, my loves.” Whispered blue eyed knight, her voice was quiet but firm. Brushing away the last traces of a salty liquid from her face she bowed in gratitude for the support her family gave her. “I’m sorry for my behavior – I spoiled our time together with the weakness of my spirit.”

“Mou, dummy Signum-chan.” Pouted Nanoha cutely, puffing out her cheeks adorably. “We are have this talk so many times already. You’re our wife and we’re always would be here to support you when you in pain. If you wan to cry – just cry and don’t you dare to bottle your worries inside.” Finishing her rant Nanoha poke Signum’s cheek with her nose, much to pinkette’s joy.

She returned a favor with a quick tickling of Nanoha’s nose. Brunette giggled uncontrollably, squirming slightly as her wife continued to tickle her weak point. “And I’ll always apologize for causing you and Yuuno to worry, sweetheart.” Declared swordswoman seriously, ceasing the playful teasing and leaning on Yuuno’s chest, slowly succumbing to fatigue. “And since we’re family I always would apologize and make amends for any time I’ll hurt you.”

“You’re such responsible woman, dear.” Smiled blonde librarian, wrapping his right hand around his pink-haired wife’s waist, his left arm performed the same maneuver targeting Nanoha, used the opportunity to snuggle into her husband’s chest too. “Well, your sense of duty always was your strong point as a knight, or as an officer, or as an engineer and instructor. Well, I admit that I found your “responsible wife” part THE most charming of all and I’m sure Nanoha too.”

Said Nanoha giggled together with Yuuno when Signum blushed a bit. Pinkette had a small measure of revenge when she tickled Yuuno’s belly causing him to flinch, much to her and Nanoha’s amusement. Quickly realizing that he is in danger of pincer tickling attack, Yuuno immediately surrendered, invoking a new burst of laughter form brunette and pinkette.

“But Signum.” Yuuno’s tone became more serious as he raised his hand from swordswoman’s waist to her shoulder to give her a small squeeze. “Recently I started to pick up some weir images in my sleep too.” Both women gasped at this confession, Sgnum shrunk for a bit as shadow on her face grew deeper. “While they wasn’t as clear as Nanoha’s nightmare today they’re definitely leaved a somber impression in me. Please tell us, do you need a help?”

There was a heavy silence for a moment but then, whit a heavy sight Signum begun her explanation. “As you know with the destruction of Book of Darkness, slowly the restrains it put in us, Wolkenritters, started to wear off. Our bodies became more and more human-like (to everyone shock, Vita experienced a sudden burst of growth and now pretty happy redhead looked like eighteen years old teenager) with each year, the shackles that tied us down rotted away. But there is a downside of this process – as the barrier on our memories collapsed, I and Vita now forced to meet our unpleasant past in all its dark glory.”

“Now I’m remember how I failed to protect my comrade… no! My sister, from the hands of the scoundrels that had no shame. How I failed to notice how our master send Zafira to his death a day before her destroyed Vita.”

She sobbed again, remembering how she felt when she received a report about the annihilation of the forces, lead by Guardia Beast. And Ludwig managed to turn this even into a tactical advantage – he gave his enemies a false sense of superiority, which lead a massive enemy forces into a trap grossherzog Von Estenberg created for them with the help of his “friends”.

“I remember now how I was forced to live in shame, shackled by the Book of Darkness and the lives of a few of our friends among the servants of the castle, whom he “spared” and then kept alive just for this purpose. How I lost all my hopes and continued to serve him, committing crimes after the crimes in the name of a bloodstained grossherzog. And I remember how bad was my relationship with Vita until we… got reborn.”

There were no tears in her sad eyes; the presence of her beloved ones was her strength to continue her story. “She couldn’t forgive me, she couldn’t forgive herself and she definitely couldn’t forgive the Book of Darkness that forced her to live as a thrall of the inhuman killer, who butchered so many of her friends just because.”

Nanoha and Yuuno didn’t cry too – if they will they’ll betray Signum, who restrained her anguish for their sake.

She died on the day when they violated her. Oh Creator, she was such a sweet girl before the incident, so brave, so kind, so understanding. She ceased to be a skilled master and teacher and became a feral, rage filled-knight of destruction until we meet lady Hayate. I never would be able to repay lady Hayate for all she done to restore what was left on Vita from a sweet girl we all loved so much. How ironic, now I’m happy that Book of Darkness formatted our memories each activation. After all, Vita was able to restore her faith in humankind and learn to cherish people around her without those me…”

And then Signum’s eyes shoot wide open as she get the idea. “Oh no! VITA!! If I remembered this incident then she’ll also…”

Nanoha paled too. “Kami! Poor Vita-chan! This week I tasked with Infinity Library duties and I couldn’t monitor her situation. NO!! I wasn’t there for Vita-chan!”

Desperate and panicking women tried to sprung on their feet, but Yuuno’s grip was firm and the both mages were forced to lay down as their husband pull them on sheets. “It’s too early anyway and you two need a good nap to have enough strength to help Vita. Nanoha, I’ll took your today’s duties on myself and ask ms. Alpine to be Signum’s substitute today, Lutecia is prefer to work with various mechanism anyway over her studies.”

“Nyahaha. Yuuno-kun is so sweet.” Giggled Nanoha, crawling on his chest with her eyes closed already. “Thank you Yuuno-kun for help – Vita-chan is my dear friend and I just couldn’t leave her alone.”

“Indeed. I can’t put in words my gratitude, Yuuno.” Signum adjusted herself so she could hug both Yuuno and Nanoha in her sleep as she succumbed to the warm oblivion of the dream world. ”Thank you for the chance to help my sister, whom I failed once already.

Hey folks, been searching around for some constructive criticism of one of my stories. Let me know if I'm posting this in the wrong place. It's a cross-over but it seems like people don't actually post stories in the x-overs thread.

Hermione, Nanoha, and Fate arrived at the potions classroom with plenty of time to spare and took seats at a bench toward the rear of the room so as not to obscure the view of the much shorter first years who had started arriving along with them. Hearing that Professor Snape was a bit on the strict side, they had made sure to get to the dungeon a bit early. They took the time before class began to review the potions text. With only seconds before class was to start professor Snape swept into the classroom, robes flaring about him as he marched to the front of the classroom. He turned abruptly once he reached his desk, and focused his predatory gaze upon his pupils.

Nanoha and Fate listened carefully to the rehearsed speech about the merits of potioneering and Nanoha had to suppress a snicker as she found the term, “dunderheads,” to be amusing. If professor Snape took any notice of the visiting student’s mirth, he showed no sign of it. He began the class with a rapid-fire quiz on the properties of various reagents used in potion making which resulted in Gryffindor losing two points due to the first years not knowing any of the answers. The Slytherin students didn’t have any better luck with their replies but did not lose any house points.

After concluding the quiz with a few snide comments about the intellectual abilities of the students, he declared that the class would then concoct a cure for boils and magically put the instructions up on the blackboard at the front of the room. Watching with a critical eye, he stood back as the first years set up their cauldrons and went to the supply cabinet for their ingredients. As soon as the students began working, he drifted from table to table like a phantom, terrorizing the Gryffindor first years with sharp rebukes for any errors and surly silence in response to success. The Slytherins received some light praise and far less criticism.

Nanoha glanced at Hermione, [Is he alway this biassed toward his own house?] she inquired via telepathy. Hermione nodded slightly in response, having not learned how to use telepathy yet. Nanoha made a mental note to start training her as soon as they could find time for it. Browsing skeptically through the list of ingredients posted up on the board in the front of the room she inquired, “Hermione, do you know how this all works? I mean obviously these ingredients interact with each other, but what is the magical foundation?”

“I...I don’t honestly know,” replied Hermione with a slightly troubled expression. “I’ve tried to research the topic before, but I couldn’t find any answers about the underlying mechanics of why the potions work. It seems that we know what attributes certain ingredients and actions contribute and how different potion components interact, but not why they behave the way they do.”

[Now we definitely need to bring a bunch of potion ingredients back for Mari to look at,] Nanoha thought to the other two girls. [She’ll loooove having jars and bottles of things like eel eye, frog brain, and leech juice in her office.] Both of the others rolled their eyes [What? I think it’s important that we help to expand the um…knowledge of… Okay, fine. I just want to see the face she makes when we put the jar of eyeballs on her desk.] Hermione, having had four years to get accustomed to the bizarre nature of potion ingredients simply smiled slightly while Fate took a glance at the ingredients cabinet in the classroom and looked vaguely ill.

“Is something wrong Takamachi, Harlaown?” professor Snape drawled as he approached their table. “Not deigning to work with the first years?”

“Not at all sir,” replied Fate, ignoring the implied insult, “we were told by Headmaster Dumbledore that we would be observing rather than participating at this point in time and we do not have the necessary equipment for this class.”

“I see. If you so desire, you may borrow a cauldron and participate,” he offered in his characteristic sullen tone. He actually seemed taken aback when Nanoha got to her feet, thanked him enthusiastically for the offer, and headed to the supply closet to obtain their ingredients and a cauldron. Fate got to her feet and followed Nanoha after offering Hermione a shrug. “Not going to assist your charges, Miss Granger?” professor Snape inquired after taking a moment to supervise the two visiting students as they set up their cauldron.

“They’re both intelligent young women, professor, and they should be quite able to handle themselves in a first year class without my aid. They’ll ask if they want my help,” Hermione replied.

“Indeed,” commented Snape as he observed Nanoha deftly preparing each of the ingredients and carefully laying them out in order as Fate began to carefully concoct the potion. The two seemed to work flawlessly as a team with no communication, Hermione noted. They could have been communicating telepathically, but so far they had opted to communicate verbally with one another unless the situation demanded otherwise. Professor Snape glared at the pair as they prepared their potion before turning abruptly to antagonize other students as he couldn’t find any obvious fault in what they were doing.

After a few minutes, Hermione saw Fate wave draw her wand and wave it over the cauldron, a skeptical expression on her face. The blonde’s eyebrow quirked a bit as she saw the potion react to her wand waving and Nanoha smiled in amusement at her friend’s puzzlement. The two then checked to make sure the burner was set properly before leaving their potion to simmer for the prescribed time and returning once again to talk to Hermione. Mindful of Professor Snape’s close observation, the three had to make sure not to mention anything regarding the TSAB much to Hermione’s annoyance.

Nanoha and Fate had Hermione quiz them on potion making knowledge until their potion was ready for the next stages. They had initially tried to assist some of the younger Gryffindors who were having trouble but were reprimanded sharply and lost their house 5 points much to their chagrin. Returning to their cauldron, Nanoha handled adding the ingredients while Fate removed the cauldron from the fire and took care of the required stirring. Neither had said anything, but Fate was sure that Nanoha would tease her later about not wanting to touch the slugs the potion had required. Finally, a few quills, stirs, and a wave of the wand later, their potion was complete and Hermione confirmed for the two visiting students that their end result looked correct. Smiling, Nanoha poured a sample into the vial Hermione supplied them to turn in while Fate began cleaning up their workspace.

Hermione waited patiently as Fate quickly and efficiently cleaned up their workspace and Nanoha trotted up to the front of the room to turn in their vial. Finding that they still had a few minutes of class remaining after cleaning up, Fate and Nanoha returned to having Hermione quiz them on basic potions knowledge. Class soon concluded and the three girls breathed a collective sigh of relief as the left the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon. They actually felt a bit lighter as they ascended the stairs back up to the main levels of the castle.

They were headed toward the defense classroom when they were intercepted by Professor McGonagall who was rather poorly trying to conceal her annoyance with a hastily plastered on smile. “Ah, Miss Granger,” she spoke to Hermione, “I was sent to inform you that the schedule you and your wards will be following for the day has been modified. You will not be observing the first year defense…” she was cut off abruptly by the very squat, pink-clad woman she had been trying to avoid exposing the new students to.

“Hem hem,” Umbridge’s girlish voice interrupted. “Why Professor McGonagall, what ever do you mean? I was not informed of any changes,” the woman announced with a painfully insincere smile. “Encouraging your newest...students to skip their scheduled courses would reflect rather poorly on your house, don’t you think?”

“It would,” McGonagall replied coolly as she reached into her robe and withdrew a folded parchment which she then handed to the offensive woman. “However, they have been summoned to a meeting with the Headmaster and I for one am not one to question his reasons or timing.” She had to force herself not to smile at the chagrined expression which crossed the toad-like woman’s features. “Now if you will excuse us, I need to escort these three to the Headmaster’s office.” Turning abruptly, Professor McGonagall gestured for the three girls to follow her as she led them swiftly away from the stewing Umbridge. As they gained distance the relief flooding off of the elderly professor was almost palpable to the younger women.

The trio of girls were quiet as they followed the assistant Headmistress through the winding corridors toward the Headmaster’s office. [Hermione,] Nanoha inquired, [do you have any idea what this is about?] receiving a barely noticeable shake of the head in response, she pouted a little as her mind worked overtime to try to figure out what had prompted the sudden summons. A quick glance to her side informed her that Fate was just as clueless as she, and was likewise running through her own list of possible reasons for being asked to the office. Keeping with their training, both young officers carefully memorized the route they were taking while they continued to wonder what would be awaiting them at their destination.

None of the trio of girls had been able to come to any conclusions regarding the mystery of their sudden summoning by the time they reached the gargoyle that guarded the stairs up to Dumbledore’s office. Hermione could plainly see that Nanoha and Fate were nervous about being summoned and tried to give them a reassuring smile only to have her own apprehension sabotage her efforts. Fate and Nanoha watched in fascination as the gargoyle greeted Professor McGonagall and asked for the password. The incredibly life-like golems and other magically animated objects were not something either Nanoha or Fate were extremely familiar with. Sure, Precia had sent golems at them, but those behaved like robots, not living beings.

After being provided the password, the gargoyle allowed them access to the spiral staircase it had been guarding. The stairs moved upwards like an escalator leading the girls to briefly ponder the mechanics of the stairs as they ascended. The stairs came to a halt in front of a wooden door which Professor McGonagall knocked on. “Come in,” came the somewhat rusty sounding voice of the Headmaster from inside. Opening the door, Professor McGonagall ushered the three girls into the office and softly shut the door behind them before moving to take a seat beside the Headmaster’s desk.

The nervousness among the girls abated somewhat upon their entrance to the cluttered office. Dumbledore’s congenial smile helped put the girls at ease the moment they walked in and Nanoha and Fate were intensely fascinated by the curios covering every visible horizontal surface of the office. “Ms. Granger, it is always good to see you. Ms. Takamachi, Ms. Harlaown, it is good to see you looking well rested. I trust your first night in the castle went well?”

“I’m glad to hear that you like it here and I hope that you continue to do so,” Dumbledore said, earning curious looks from the students for the odd turn at the end. “Lemon drop?” he offered, holding out a small bowl filled with candy. Nanoha and Fate each accepted one of the confections while Hermione politely declined.

“Now,” began Dumbledore as he sat behind his desk to face the three girls sitting across from him, “I am sure you are wondering why I’ve asked you here. I have discussed this issue with Professor McGonagall and we are in agreement that the situation in the school is going to be murky enough as it is with the Ministry’s interference. So I must ask you who you really are and who it is that you are working for. You see, there are simply too many unknown variables right now for us to be able to ensure the safety of our students.”

Taking a deep breath, Nanoha recited the brief speech she’d been provided for this circumstance. “I am First Lieutenant Nanoha Takamachi of the Time-Space Administration Bureau and this is First Lieutenant Fate Testarossa-Harlaown of the same. Our mission here is one of peaceful exploration. I am not permitted to answer any further questions regarding the nature of our organization or mission, however now that you have been informed our commanding officer would like to schedule a meeting with you within the next twelve hours.”

Dumbledore nodded. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together now. The girls’ military bearing had been explained, and he had a feeling based on the name of their organization and Professor McGonagall’s report on their actions in Diagon Alley that their organization was not based on Earth. His reservations about showing his hand by letting them know that he knew they were “exploring” quickly evaporated in the face of the relief that he had made the correct choice in preventing them from attending Umbridge’s class. He was somewhat concerned about the lack of any surprise being demonstrated by Hermione however. “I understand that you must be under orders not to tell me more and so I will not press you as I do not doubt that you will not divulge anything you are not supposed to. Please let your superior know that I would like to meet at his or her earliest convenience.”

Nanoha and Fate exchanged a brief glance and shrugged. “Would now be acceptable, Headmaster?” inquired Fate.

Dumbledore considered briefly before replying, “I would like the opportunity to gather some relevant faculty members first. Perhaps immediately following lunch?”

“That should be fine,” Nanoha replied after a brief hesitation. “Will we be meeting here?”

“Yes, I think that would be best,” Dumbledore stated. “Now run along, you three. I’ll see you after lunch.” After the three girls had left and the door closed securely behind them, Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall, “Hermione didn’t seem very surprised at any of those revelations, did she?”

Frowning worriedly she replied, “No, she didn’t. She didn’t mention anything to me when I spoke to her at breakfast either. What do you suppose that means?”

“Obviously she managed to find out about them on her own, which is not an unexpected outcome. That she didn’t let you know makes me think that she was sworn to secrecy, or perhaps that she joined their organization. She hasn’t always received the best of treatment from our society and she doesn’t have any other organizational ties which would prevent her from doing so. Even though she knows of the Order of the Phoenix, she was not permitted to join due to her young age. She may have joined solely for the new learning opportunities they could offer her.”

Professor McGonagall nodded somewhat wearily. While she was careful not to show favoritism in her classes, Hermione was one of her favorite and most promising students. It was galling to her that Hermione would keep such an important development from her. Dumbledore, picking up on her distress, commented, “I am sure that Hermione’s options were limited when she found out and she had to make a difficult decision. I am confident enough in her abilities to think she most likely made the best one that she was able to.”

“Who will you invite to this meeting?” Professor McGonagall asked, changing the subject.

“Professors Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout,” he replied quickly, before adding a moment later, “and I think Professor Vector as well. Her foundation in arithmancy might help us to understand their magic a bit more.”

“Are you certain it’s wise to have Severus present?”

“I trust him to share only the appropriate information at the proper time.”

***

Hermione led the trio back down the spiral stairs and away from the Headmaster’s office. The meeting had left her feeling conflicted, the guilt she had largely managed to suppress started to bubble to the surface again. She knew that the professors must have noticed her lack of surprise at Nanoha’s admission that she and Fate were associated with an organization from another world. What must they think of her now? Especially Professor McGonagall, her head of house and favorite instructor besides.

“I’m not sure,” Hermione admitted. “I feel conflicted, like I should feel guilty for signing up as a contractor with you. It feels like I’m betraying something.”

“I don’t think the Professors will hold it against you when they learn about the situation and the choices you were presented at the time. Besides, it doesn’t seem like you’ll run into any conflicts of interest while you’re still attending school here. The Headmaster is the, ‘Leader of the Light,’ after all, right?” Nanoha reassured her. “Hey, there is still plenty of time before lunch, do you want to find an empty classroom and we can start answering some of those questions I am sure you have been saving up.”

Hermione’s expression brightened somewhat at the prospect of getting some of her questions answered. She led Nanoha and Fate a short distance to an out of use classroom and led them inside, closing the door behind them and casting a few privacy charms on it just to be on the safe side. She turned when she was done to find Nanoha and Fate already sitting atop two of the desks with a third situated across from them. Hermione took a moment to dust off the desktop before hopping up to sit on it.

“So Hermione, is there anyplace in particular you would like to begin?” asked Fate with a small smile.

“Do you think I can use your kind of magic?” Hermione blurted out without hesitation. It was without a doubt one of the most exciting prospective opportunities she was getting for signing up with the TSAB.

“I knew that would be your first question,” replied Nanoha with a wide grin as Fate handed her a Sickle which she quickly pocketed. “The answer is we’re not sure yet. We know that you have a linker core and that your type of magic utilizes it in a different way than our own. So we’ll have to try it to find out,” she said as she pulled a small red jewel on a necklace from her shirt. “Raising Heart, create guest user account, identity Hermione.”

“Hermione, this is Raising Heart, she is my device. A device is like a wand for our kind of magic,” Nanoha informed her, falling into her teacher voice. “There are several types of devices, but we can go over that later. A device helps to manage your magic and spells by computing the complicated math formulae required in our type of spell casting. Since Raising Heart is what is called an, ‘Intelligent Device,’ she also has an AI. Now Hermione, hold Raising Heart in your hand and repeat after me,” Nanoha said, handing over the jewel, which Hermione carefully took, her excitement plain on her features. Hermione examined the jewel for a moment, turning it over in her hand before looking to Nanoha for further instructions.

After taking a moment to make sure she remembered all of the words, Nanoha spoke. “I am the one who has been given a mission. Under the contract, release those powers unto me. Winds to the sky, stars to the heavens, and the unyielding soul to this heart! Magic to these hands! Raising Heart, set up!” Nanoha recited Raising Heart’s activation aria for the first time in years, pausing periodically to allow Hermione to repeat after her. As her long-time device activated she and Hermione spoke the last sentence simultaneously. There was a brief flash of light blue and Hermione stood before them wearing a barrier jacket which appeared to have been modeled after her school uniform.

Nanoha and Fate both applauded lightly while Hermione looked down at herself and the staff now held in her hand with wonder. Her lips curled up into a wide smile and she bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement. “Raising Heart, what is Hermione’s LCT?” Nanoha inquired.

Nanoha smiled and nodded in approval. “You’re pretty powerful. That’s on par with some of the elite cadets I’ve trained.”

“If I may ask, what’s yours?”

“Mine is 1.56 million and Fate’s is 1.62 million. Textbook average on Mid-Childa is 100 thousand, though the actual average is higher than that since each generation seems to be getting a little more powerful. The average Air Force cadet has a rating of about 500-600 thousand. We don’t usually use LCT ratings in the military. We have the, ‘Mage Rank,’ system which gives a letter rating based on combat ability or attack power. Fate and I are both S+,” Nanoha informed Hermione in a tone more reminiscent of an instructor giving a lesson than a fellow student.

Hermione did her best to memorize the figures and statistics which were being quoted to her, though they didn’t have much meaning to her yet since she had no real standard for comparison. With Nanoha and Fate both being more than fifteen times more powerful than the average mage, she guessed that they were both capable of incredible magical feats.

After a brief rundown of common commands and spell types as well as a promise to get her a storage device as soon as possible, Hermione was back in her school robes and Raising Heart was back on Nanoha’s necklace. Hermione’s grin however wasn’t going anywhere however and she positively glowed with excitement.

Hello peoples! Once upon a time a year or so ago I did have an account here and was trying to get my own Nanoha fanfics recognized. I forgot any information I had, so I'm starting anew. And here is my latest fanfiction. I'd have to say I feel pretty good about how I am doing so far on this one. But, I am not one to disregard any opinions the folks over here have. So, if you guys wouldn't mind, would you look into this and give an opinion or two?https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1012231...rical-Familiar

Hey I was thinking of writing a Fanfiction where Nanoha and Vivio are the main charecters same age, original story, but I feel that I am barking up the wrong tree since their personalities are so similar, heck even in VIvid this is mentioned. The story in question is where they are going to school similar to Harry potter.

I would like some thought on this.

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My site full of Nanoha goodies, manga and fanfiction downloads and links

Right now the idea is that they go to school and Nanoha is from the mundane world and that a sorcerres who had nearly conquered the world 10 years ago is trying to reshape the world by trying to find the grand grimmiore a spell book of merlins containing everything that the wizard knew.

I am just worried that their personalities are too similar to really be good in as fellow main charecters. I had even thought of having VIvio and THoma, or Hayate and Thoma as two of the primary main charecters, sort of like Harry Ron and Hermonie from Harry potter.

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My site full of Nanoha goodies, manga and fanfiction downloads and links

Touma groaned once as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyes opened up to see a grey ceiling with dim lighting placed at certain spaces. “This is…?”

“It’s a ward where defeated tournament contestants go to recover,” answered a female voice to his left. He managed to turn his head and spotted a girl with long red hair in a recovery gown sitting on the edge of her bed. By the doorway further down, he could also see his mother talking with a doctor. She should be coming by to see him soon.

“I see.” He was certain that he saw the girl’s face somewhere before but couldn’t quite remember.

“So who ended up being the one to send you here?”

“It was that black haired girl. Jeremiah, I think.”

The other girl laughed a bit. “Then let’s get along well as fellow victims to the DSAA champ! How did she finish you off?”

That particular fact he could clearly remember. “A long aerial drop. To be honest, I think it’s the reason why I can’t really move my muscles properly. Everything feels so stiff right now. You?”

“Got judo thrown until my life points reached zero,” came the blunt reply. “The fact that I lost to the champ takes the sting off a bit but I was hoping to get a chance to throw down against the Samurai Girl who beat me last year.”

“So you’re a returning participant?” asked the boy.

“That’s right! The name’s Harry. Harry Tribeca. I would shake hands with ya but we’re both a bit too busted up for that.”

“My name’s Touma Avenir. And now I remember where I saw your face before! You were featured on the tournament pamphlet!” He paused for a moment. “My mom actually complained about your barrier jacket being so revealing.”

“Hey, it’s actually quite comfortable!” protested Harry. “And considering how much heat Red Hawk generates, wearing a top like that is actually necessary so that I don’t drown in my own sweat!”

“Red Hawk? That’s the name of your device?”

The girl gave a wide grin. “Yep! She’s my baby! We’ve been working together for over a year and a half! Your device was that red gauntlet, right?”

“Yeah. I only recently got it.”

Harry let out a small impressive whistle. “To make it this far with a device you only started using is pretty impressive!”

“To be honest, my wins were thanks due to the training my mom put me through. I didn’t use my device much until I ran into that girl,” admitted Touma.

“So you have a pretty well rounded fighting style, huh? Some sort of Strike Art variation?”

He took some time to think about the best way to put it into words. “I guess you can say it’s a variation of my mom’s family style. We’re not blood related so I can’t use the full version of it. That doesn’t bug me though.”

“You’re saying that you could have done a lot better if you…?” Something else caught Harry’s attention. “Wait, you’re not her real son?”

“I’m adopted,” answered Touma. “And aspects of her style are dependent on the magic capabilities found in her family blood.”

“Damn, that sucks. But you were still able to do well, despite using that watered down version of her style!”

“That’s true. Heck, that Jeremiah girl was interested in helping me further refine the style to something I can call my own. It really surprised me.”

Another laugh came from Harry. “Won’t argue with ya on that! She’s seriously a nice gal. She even offered to help me out as well but I said no thanks. After all, if I relied on someone’s help in the development of my art, I can’t truly call it ‘Ore-shiki’ anymore.”

“… ‘Style of Me’?” He looked a bit mind boggled at that name.

“Everyone’s gotta have pride in something. Some have pride in their devices or the power they were born with. I got nothing fancy like that so I’ll take pride in my style!”

Touma managed to crack a small smile at that. “Heh, that’s an interesting way of seeing things.”

“How about this? Maybe we can spar with each other on a regular basis when we both recover! All this talk about your mom’s family style has my blood pumping!” She reached for a short octohedral-tipped chain linked to a ring on her left middle finger and started fiddling around with it.

A few taps later and she was done. “Alright, I just sent you a friend request. Once you accept it, we can call each other on a regular basis and set up a schedule!”

“Sounds good.” He then noticed that his mother was making her way over to where he was lying down. “So what now, Mom?”

“We go home and you rest up. The doctors say your condition is temporary and you’ll be able to move normally by tomorrow morning.”

“Good to hear. I can’t wait to move normally again.” He paused for a bit while the blonde haired young woman bent over to pick him up. “That means I’ll be stuck in bed all day today.”

“For the most part, yes. But I will be helping you with your hygiene needs for today.”

Part of his mind froze upon hearing that as his mom started carrying him out of the room. “You mean you’re going to have to bathe me? Can’t I just skip today?”

“Absolutely not! The Church has strict rules about keeping a certain level of cleanliness! Now I know you’re a growing young man and that you prefer to have your personal space and all that but you just have to bear it for today.”

“MOM!”

While the mother and son bickered in the distance, a wistful smile crossed Harry’s face. “Must be nice to have a mom who cares so much.”